The first reported cases of elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus infectious haemorrhagic disease in Malaysia: case report

Virology Journal

Tom Hughes¹  Mei-Ho Lee¹  Erin Latimer²  Jum Rafiah Abd Sukor³  Senthilvel K. S. S. Nathan³  Diana Ramirez⁴  Pakeeyaraj Nagalingam⁴  Laura Benedict⁴ 

[1] Conservation Medicine;National Elephant Herpesvirus Laboratory, Wildlife Health Sciences Department, Smithsonian’s National Zoo;Sabah Wildlife Department;Wildlife Rescue Unit, Sabah Wildlife Department;

关键词: Bornean elephant;    Elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus;    Sabah;    Malaysia;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12985-021-01694-x

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Abstract Background Elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus haemorrhagic disease (EEHV HD) is the leading cause of death in captive Asian elephant calves in Asia, North America, and Europe with a mortality rate of ~ 65% in calves that are under human care. Although EEHV HD was first found in elephant camps, more recently it was identified in wild populations which poses a greater threat to the elephant population. Deaths due to EEHV HD have been seen in wild elephants, but the in-situ prevalence and mortality rate is unknown. We report the first EEHV HD cases in Malaysia from 3 wild born endangered Bornean elephant calves from Sabah with known typical clinical signs. Case presentation The first calf died within 24 h of the onset of clinical signs; the second calf died within 12 h of the onset of clinical signs. The third calf succumbed within 72 h. Necropsies revealed that all 3 calves had similar presentations of EEHV HD but in the third calf with less severity. We conducted conventional polymerase chain reaction (cPCR) assays and found EEHV DNA at all 7 loci in the 3 calves; it was identified as EEHV1A, the virus type that has been found in most other reported cases. Conclusion Typical EEHV HD clinical signs and the molecular confirmation of EEHV by cPCR and sequencing point to EEHV as the cause of death. Further genetic investigation of the strain is in progress.

【 授权许可】

Unknown