ORIGINAL PAPER A retrospective study of wildlife rabies in Zimbabwe, between 1992 and 2003 D. M. Pfukenyi & D. Pawandiwa & P. V. Makaya & U. Ushewokunze-Obatolu Accepted: 14 August 2008 / Published online: 30 August 2008 # Springer Science + Business Media B.V. 2008 Abstract To assess the epidemiological features of wildlife rabies in Zimbabwe, a retrospective study covering a period of 12 years (1992–2003) was conducted using rabies records of the Central Veteri- nary Laboratories (CVL), Department of Veterinary Technical Services at Harare. Records of monthly and annual wildlife rabies were perused with regard to total samples submitted to the CVL and corresponding positive cases. Positive cases were analyzed in relation to the animal species involved, seasonal trends, and land-use categories. A total of 2107 samples were submitted and 1 540 (73.1%) were positive. Jackals (Canis mesomelas and C. adustus), with a peak occurrence of rabies between January and March were the major maintenance host, representing approximate- ly 91% of the total rabies cases confirmed. The Canidae family recorded the highest number of cases followed by the Viverridae, Mustelidae, Felidae, Herpestidae and Hyaenidae families in that order. During the present study rabies cases were confirmed in 7 additional wild animals. The majority of the positive cases (83.7%) were recorded in commercial farming areas in the northeast parts of the country. Keywords Epidemiology . Rabies . Wildlife . Zimbabwe Introduction In most parts of the world, rabies is endemic in either dogs (canine rabies) or wildlife species (sylvatic rabies) (Bishop et al. 2002) and Zimbabwe is one of those countries where both forms of the disease occur. Hence, not only does Zimbabwe has to contend with canine and therefore human rabies, but the sylvatic form of the disease is present in canids, such as jackals (Canis mesomelas and C. adustus) and in herpestids such as mongooses (Foggin 1988; Bingham et al. 1999). Two biotypes of rabies (Nel et al. 1993, 2005; King et al. 1994; Sabeta et al. 2003) are recognized in the southern African subcontinent. The first biotype, called the canid viruses, infects canids such as dogs Trop Anim Health Prod (2009) 41:565–572 DOI 10.1007/s11250-008-9224-4 D. M. Pfukenyi (*) Department of Clinical Veterinary Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Zimbabwe, P. O. Box MP 167, Mt. Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe e-mail: dmpfukenyi@vet.uz.ac.zw D. Pawandiwa : P. V. Makaya Central Veterinary Laboratories, Diagnostic and Research Branch, Department of Veterinary Technical Services, P. O. Box CY551, Causeway, Harare, Zimbabwe U. Ushewokunze-Obatolu Division of Veterinary Field Services, P. O. Box CY52, Causeway, Harare, Zimbabwe