INTRODUCTION

The African wild dog is an extremely endangered species. Diseases, large predators (lions), and man, threaten their existence. In areas where game is scarce, wild dogs tend to approach human settlements. As a consequence they are snared, poisoned, and may come into close contact with domestic dogs. As the African wild dog is susceptible to diseases also found in domestic dogs (distemper, rabies and parvovirus), cross infection may occur--leading, in some cases, to high mortality.