Subclinical infection of captive Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) in Thailand with elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus

• Published in: Archives of virology Vol. 165; no. 2; pp. 397 - 401
• Main Authors: Sripiboon, Supaphen, Ditcham, William, Vaughan-Higgins, Rebecca, Jackson, Bethany, Robertson, Ian, Thitaram, Chatchote, Angkawanish, Taweepoke, Phatthanakunanan, Sakuna, Lertwatcharasarakul, Preeda, Warren, Kristin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Vienna Springer Vienna 01.02.2020; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animals; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Brief Report; Elephantid betaherpesvirus 1; Elephants; Elephants - virology; Elephas maximus; Female; Hemorrhage; Hemorrhagic disease; Herpesviridae - pathogenicity; Herpesviridae Infections - veterinary; Herpesviridae Infections - virology; Infections; Infectious Diseases; juveniles; Male; Medical Microbiology; Subclinical infection; Thailand; Virology; viruses; Thailand
• ISSN: 0304-8608; 1432-8798; 1432-8798
• DOI: 10.1007/s00705-019-04469-6

Elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV) infection is a conservation threat to the endangered Asian elephant ( Elephas maximus ), causing fatal hemorrhagic disease in juvenile elephants throughout the world, including Thailand. This study revealed a subclinical EEHV1 infection rate of 5.5% in healthy captive Asian elephants in Thailand (n = 362). The virus was detected in all age classes above one year old, in both sexes, and across the country – even in facilities with no history of hemorrhagic disease (EEHV HD). Subclinical EEHV infection in Thailand urgently requires proper health management.