• Matthew DlaminiRESEARCH has established that it is possible to administer the oral rabies vaccine to kudu by means of a successful bait.
According to the Namibia Agricultural Union, a research programme that originated from the Livestock Producers Organisation (LPO) congress in 2010, found that the rabies virus is maintained among the kudu population in Namibia.
The research in which the NAU sought to test the effectiveness of an oral vaccine for kudu against rabies, it was also established the it was possible for the kudu to acquire a natural immunity against the virus in natural circumstances to some extent.
The research programme which was implemented by Agra Provision with Dr R Hassel as the project leader also established that the horizontal spread of the disease between kudu could not be established; however this may be as a result of the animals being in captivity rather than in their natural environment.
The NAU also stated that the oral vaccine can be absorbed by the system of the kudu in order to produce antibodies.
The union added that if sufficient donor funds are acquired, the project will be extended to further the research.
In the meantime, Dr Hassel and his team have proceeded to find ways of improving the natural methods to administer sufficient oral vaccines to the kudu in order to produce sufficient antibodies against the disease.
The union said a full epidemiological report will be released as well as a publication in a scientific journal.
– matthew@namibian.com.na
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