Observations on mortality rates and disease in roan and sable antelope on nature reservesin the Transvaal

Mortality rates of approximately 44 percent in sable and 57 percent in roan antelope are reported from the Percy Fyfe Nature Reserve in the Transvaal. Most deaths occurred within the first 12 weeks after birth. A high incidence of reservoir Cytauxzoon parasitaemia was observed in sampled sable and roan of various ages. Chlamydiosis, complicated by babesiosis and pneumocystosis was diagnosed as the cause of death of one sable calf and Babesia infection was observed in two immature sable antelope that died of inanition. Cytauxzoonosis, characterized by high erythrocytic infection rates, was incriminated as the cause of death of two roan calves. These are the first reported cases of chlamydiosis and pneumocystosis in sable and cytauxzoonosis in sable and roan antelope.