Detection of elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus 4 in captive asian elephants (Elephas maximus) in Thailand

Abstract

Elephant endotheliotropic herpesviruses (EEHVs) can cause fatal hemorrhagic disease in elephants, especially young captive Asian elephants (Elephas maximus). Currently, seven EEHV types have been reported. In this study, EEHVs were examined in whole-blood samples derived from 56 captive Asian elephants from eight provinces in Thailand by nested PCR using primers specific to the viral DNA polymerase gene in an attempt to monitor EEHV elephant cases. After EEHV testing, one sample (1.78%) was positive and found to be closely related to EEHV4 with 99% amino acid identity. This sample was from a three-year-old female Asian elephant with no clinical signs. These data suggest that asymptomatic EEHV4 infection can occur in Asian elephants.