Rabies and mortality in Ethiopian wolves (Canis simensis)

Between October 1991 and February 1992, 41 of 53 known adult and subadult Ethiopian wolves (Canis simensis) in five adjacent packs in the Bale Mountains National Park, Ethiopia, died or disappeared. Brain smears from two carcasses were positive for rabies by the immunofluorescence test, and rabies virus was isolated from the brains by mouse inoculation. Based on monoclonal antibody tests on the mouse brains, we identified the virus as a minor variant of the serotype 1 rabies viruses found in domestic dogs and wild canids of Africa. Sera from two of 15 Ethiopian wolves had rabies virus neutralizing antibody.