Review of Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesviruses and Acute Hemorrhagic Disease

摘要: More than 100 young captive and wild Asian elephants are known to have died from a rapid-onset, acute hemorrhagic disease caused primarily by multiple distinct strains of two closely related chimeric variants novel herpesvirus species designated elephant endotheliotropic (EEHV1A EEHV1B). These other Probosciviruses (EEHV4 EEHV5) evidently ancient likely nearly ubiquitous asymptomatic infections adult worldwide that occasionally shed in trunk wash secretions. Although only handful similar cases been observed African elephants, they also proved harbor their own Probosciviruses-EEHV2, EEHV3, EEHV6, EEHV7-found lung skin nodules or saliva. For reasons not yet understood, approximately 20% calves appear be susceptible the when primary controlled normal innate cellular humoral immune responses. Sensitive specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) DNA blood tests developed, routine monitoring has established, complete large genomes each four EEHV now sequenced, PCR gene subtyping provided unambiguous evidence this is sporadic rather epidemic it being spread among zoos housing facilities. Nevertheless, researchers able propagate cell culture, determine whether human antiherpesvirus drugs effective inhibitors, develop serology assays can distinguish between antibodies against different species.