Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) Populations in Northwestern Namibia Are Apparently Not Infected with Piroplasms

Babesiosis is a potentially fatal disease in black rhinoceroses. Blood specimens collected from black rhinoceroses from Etosha National Park (n=29) and Damaraland (n=22), Namibia, were subjected to polymerase chain reaction using Theileria and Babesia genus-specific primers and reverse line blot, with negative results. The animals were sparsely infested with ticks. In the absence of suitable prophylactic measures, naı¨ve rhinoceroses would be at risk if translocated to Babesia-endemic areas.