Characterizations of Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus Type 1A and 4 Co-Infections in Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) Calves

Khajohnpat Boonprasert; Saralee Srivorakul; Natcha Monchaivanakit; Warangkhana Langkaphin; Supaphen Sripiboon; Thittaya Janyamethakul; Channarong Srisa-Ad; Thunyamas Guntawang; Janine L Brown; Chatchote Thitaram; Kidsadagon Pringproa

doi:10.3390/vetsci11040147

Characterizations of Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus Type 1A and 4 Co-Infections in Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus) Calves

Vet Sci. 2024 Mar 25;11(4):147. doi: 10.3390/vetsci11040147.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Elephant Hospital, National Elephant Institute, Forest Industry Organization, Lampang 52190, Thailand.
² Center of Elephant and Wildlife Health, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand.
³ Center of Veterinary Diagnostic and Technology Transfer, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand.
⁴ Department of Large Animal and Wildlife Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakornpathom 73140, Thailand.
⁵ Pattara Elephant Farm, Mae Wang, Chiang Mai 50360, Thailand.
⁶ Save Elephant Foundation, Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand.
⁷ Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand.
⁸ Center for Species Survival, Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, 1500 Remount Rd., Front Royal, VA 22630, USA.
⁹ Elephant, Wildlife and Companion Animal Research Group, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand.

Abstract

Three cases of double infection with elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV) types 1A and 4 in captive Asian elephants are presented. The first calf was a 4-year-old female that showed initial signs of lethargy and depression. The second calf was a 6-year-old female that displayed signs of depression and diarrhea and died within 48 h of the start of supportive treatment. The third was a 2-year-old male that died suddenly while living with the herd. Necropsies were performed in the first and second elephants, while only a tongue sample was collected from the third calf. EEHV infection was confirmed via quantitative PCR (qPCR) and gene sequencing, revealing double subtypes of EEHV1A and -4 infections. This study describes the hematological and pathological characteristics within the host following double EEHV infection.

Keywords: Asian elephant; double subtypes; elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus; infection.

Grants and funding

This project was supported by the Elephant, Wildlife and Companion Animal Research Group (1-2566), Chiang Mai University, Thailand, the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT): R. Thanawongnuwech NRCT Senior scholar 2022#N42650553 and by the NRCT Grant No: FF66/021.