THE OCCURRENCE OF ELEPHANT ENDOTHELIOTROPIC HER-PESVIRUS IN CAPTIVE ASIAN ELEPHANTS (ELEPHAS MAXIMUS): FIRST CASE OF EEHV4 IN ASIA

摘要: Elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV) is a type of that causes acute hemorrhagic disease in Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) and often fatal, especially calves. This study describes the postmortem evaluation two captive-born (2 3 yr age, respectively) diagnosed with EEHV Thailand. Both presented only mild depression, lethargy, anorexia before death within 24 hr symptom onset. Necropsies were performed, tissue samples tested for viral presence using polymerase chain reaction. Molecular phylogenetic evidence illustrated types EEHV, which closely related to EEHV1A Case 1 EEHV4 2. Pathologic findings differed between cases. More specific organ tropism was found 1, where mainly cardiovascular system affected. In contrast, 2, hemorrhages noted most organs, including gastrointestinal, respiratory, systems. report first document Asia second case this strain be identified an elephant worldwide.