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1 December 2010 Nonfatal Clinical Presentation of Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpes Virus Discovered in a Group of Captive Asian Elephants (Elephas maximus)
W. Schaftenaar, C. Reid, B. Martina, J. Fickel, A. D. M. E. Osterhaus
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

Several different strains of elephant endotheliotropic herpes virus-1 (EEHV-1) have been identified via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques in both African and Asian elephants. EEHV-1 has been identified in both cutaneous lesions in healthy African elephants and fatal cases of hemorrhagic syndrome in Asian elephants.6 However, until now, no EEHV-1 strain has been identified or associated with otherwise healthy Asian elephants. This article describes recurrent nonendothelial lesions associated with EEHV-1 infection in a herd of Asian elephants not exhibiting fatal hemorrhagic syndrome. Genotypes of EEHV-1 strains, based on viral DNA polymerase and glycoprotein B, associated with fatal hemorrhagic syndrome, were compared to those identified in nonendothelial lesions. The same EEHV-1 genotypes were identified in fatal cases and mucosal lesions in otherwise healthy Asian elephants in this herd. Further studies of the Asian elephant immune system and virologic studies to determine the triggers of tissue tropism are needed before any conclusion can be reached.

W. Schaftenaar, C. Reid, B. Martina, J. Fickel, and A. D. M. E. Osterhaus "Nonfatal Clinical Presentation of Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpes Virus Discovered in a Group of Captive Asian Elephants (Elephas maximus)," Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 41(4), 626-632, (1 December 2010). https://doi.org/10.1638/2009-0217.1
Received: 7 November 2009; Published: 1 December 2010
KEYWORDS
EEHV
Elephant endotheliotropic herpes virus
herpetic lesions
tropism
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