Sample A: Cover Page of Thesis, Project, or Dissertation Proposal

have demonstrated that wild ruminants (buffalo and numerous antelope species), elephants,
and rhinoceros (Table 2.3) are among the animals to develop the highest prevalence of
antibodies to the virus following inapparent infections (Davies and Martin 2003, EFSA 2005,
Evans et al. 2007). It is likely that both undetected abortions and mortalities due to RVF
infection occur in at least some wildlife species during RVF epidemics (Davies and Martin
2003).
Table 2.3. Wildlife species known to develop antibodies against the RVF virus.*
Animal Species
Wild Ruminants buffalo African buffalo (Syncerus caffer)
Asian water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)
antelope kongoni (Alcelaphus buselaphus)
impala (Aepyceros melampus)
lesser kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros)
Thomson’s gazelle (Gazella thomsonii)
waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus)
Other Wildlife elephants African elephants (Loxodonta africana)
rhinoceros black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis)
* Table adapted from Evans et al. 2007.
Humans
Humans with RVF typically have either no symptoms or mild Influenza-like illness with
fever, generalized weakness, muscle and joint pain, dizziness, photophobia, anorexia, and
sometimes nausea and vomiting (Davis and Martin 2003, CDC 2004b). Recovery usually
occurs within 4-7 days, however, in some cases the disease progresses to ocular disease.
Other, often fatal, complications include hemorrhagic fever and encephalitis (which can lead
to headaches, coma, or seizures). In humans the case mortality rate is generally low
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