Detection of Quiescent Infections with Multiple Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesviruses (EEHVs), Including EEHV2, EEHV3, EEHV6, and EEHV7, within Lymphoid Lung Nodules or Lung and Spleen Tissue Samples from Five Asymptomatic Adult African Elephants

摘要: ABSTRACT More than 80 cases of lethal hemorrhagic disease associated with elephant endotheliotropic herpesviruses (EEHVs) have been identified in young Asian elephants worldwide. Diagnostic PCR tests detected six types EEHV blood acute disease, although EEHV1A is the predominant pathogenic type. Previously, presence herpesvirus virions within benign lung and skin nodules from healthy African led to suggestions that may be source elephants. Here, we used direct PCR-based DNA sequencing detect genomes necropsy tissue five adult Two large collected culled wild South contained high levels either EEHV3 alone or both EEHV2 EEHV3. Similarly, a euthanized U.S. proved harbor multiple distributed nonuniformly across four small nodules, including EEHV6, lower EEHV2, new GC-rich branch type, EEHV7. Several same were also random spleen samples two other Sanger sequence data comprising 100 kb obtained total 15 different strains identified, (except for few hypervariable genes) EEHV3, EEHV6 all being closely related known genotypes whereas seven loci (4.0 kb) EEHV7 averaged 18% divergence their nearest relative, Overall, conclude these species, but probably not EEHV1, occur commonly as quiescent infections elephants. IMPORTANCE Acute characterized by high-level viremia due infection members Proboscivirus genus threatens future breeding success endangered Although partially fully characterized, predominantly involves variety whose natural host has unclear. carried out genotype analyses partial asymptomatic simultaneous several types, concentrations lymphoid nodules. results provide strong evidence represent ubiquitous elephants, EEHV1A, EEHV1B, EEHV4, EEHV5. single case fatal cross-species known, do support previous concept highly crossed zoos.