Genetic and ultrastructural characterization of a European isolate of the fatal endotheliotropic elephant herpesvirus.

摘要: A male Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) died at the Berlin zoological gardens in August 1998 of systemic infection with novel endotheliotropic herpesvirus (ElHV-1). This virus causes a fatal haemorrhagic disease elephants, so-called endothelial inclusion body disease, as reported from North American gardens. In present work, ElHV-1 was visualized ultrastructurally affected organ material. Furthermore, gene block comprising complete glycoprotein B (gB) and DNA polymerase (DPOL) genes well two partial amplified by PCR-based genome walking sequenced. The content arrangement were similar to those members Betaherpesvirinae. However, phylogenetic analysis gB DPOL consistently revealed very distant relationship betaherpesviruses. Therefore, may be member new genus or even subfamily. sequence information generated used set up nested-PCR assay for diagnosis suspected cases disease. it will aid development antibody-based detection methods vaccination strategies against this endangered elephant.