Disease Risks for Restoring Endangered Sahelo-Saharan Antelope: A Literature Review

In 1994, the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals identified six species of Sahelo-Saharan antelope in immediate danger of extinction. Several of these species are now subjects of large-scale conservation efforts, including reintroductions and population reinforcements across their native ranges. However, disease-related mortalities can cause major setbacks, and wildlife-livestock interfaces are widely thought to have contributed to disease and mortality events in translocated animals. We reviewed 202 English and French publications spanning 20 years (2000-2020) and the WOAH-WAHIS database for infectious diseases and parasites that could pose risks to Sahelo-Saharan antelope. Our review included countries with active conservation translocation initiatives for these species: Chad, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia. We found reports of 159 distinct infectious agents or parasites. Frequently identified viruses included bluetongue virus, Rift Valley fever virus, and small ruminant morbillivirus. Commonly reported bacterial and protozoal agents included Anaplasma spp., Theileria spp., and Toxoplasma spp., while common ectoparasites included Hyalomma and Rhipicephalus ticks. Sixty-nine (43%) of the infectious agents identified were potentially zoonotic, 39 (25%) were vector-borne, and 30 were WOAH-listed diseases. These findings highlight potential regional health threats to Sahelo-Saharan antelope and neighboring livestock and human communities. Targeted research is needed to elucidate the role of wildlife in the epidemiology of livestock diseases and vice versa.