Dataset Information

Long-term, intermittent, low-level elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus 1A viremia in a captive Asian elephant calf.

ABSTRACT: A 2-y-old male Asian elephant ( Elephas maximus), with an elevated platelet count (1,100 × 109/L [1,100 × 103/mm3]), tested positive for elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus 1A (EEHV-1A) on conventional PCR (cPCR) of EDTA whole blood. No clinical signs were ever reported and no treatment was administered, but low-level viremia persisted for 2.5?y based on results of cPCR and/or real-time PCR (rtPCR). Sequencing confirmed that the EEHV-1A detected was identical at the beginning through the end of the time period. No other elephants in the herd tested positive for EEHV-1 during this time period. Platelet counts remained elevated throughout the viremia and throughout the animal's life, and direct correlation between the elevated platelet counts and EEHV-1A viremia could not be confirmed. We document long-term, intermittent, low-level viremia of EEHV-1A and provide additional information to consider when determining if treatment is warranted in a case of EEHV infection.

SUBMITTER: Bauer KL

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6505841 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Long-term, intermittent, low-level elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus 1A viremia in a captive Asian elephant calf.

Bauer Kendra L KL Latimer Erin E Finnegan Mitch M

Journal of veterinary diagnostic investigation : official publication of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, Inc 20180928 6

A 2-y-old male Asian elephant ( Elephas maximus), with an elevated platelet count (1,100 × 109/L [1,100 × 103/mm3]), tested positive for elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus 1A (EEHV-1A) on conventional PCR (cPCR) of EDTA whole blood. No clinical signs were ever reported and no treatment was administered, but low-level viremia persisted for 2.5 y based on results of cPCR and/or real-time PCR (rtPCR). Sequencing confirmed that the EEHV-1A detected was identical a ...[more]

PMID: 30264667

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Project description:IntroductionOxidative stress refers to an imbalance between oxidant and antioxidant activity and accumulation of reactive oxygen species, which can have detrimental effects on animal health. Annual fluctuations in oxidative stress status can occur, increasing disease susceptibility during certain time periods. However, a full understanding of factors related to oxidative stress in Asian elephants and how to mitigate the negative consequences is lacking.MethodsThis study measured six serum oxidative stress markers [reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), albumin, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase] and two stress markers [serum cortisol and fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (fGCM)] in 23 captive Asian elephants in Thailand over a 12 months period to examine relationships with age and season.ResultsSeasonal variations were observed, with several markers exhibiting significantly higher concentrations in the summer (ROS, MDA, 8-OHdG, albumin) and lower values during the rainy/winter seasons (MDA, 8-OHdG, albumin, catalase). By contrast, GPx was the only marker to be highest during the rainy season. For the stress markers, higher fGCM concentrations were noted during the rainy season, which contrasts with earlier studies showing more activity in the winter (tourist season). Positive correlations were found between the temperature-humidity index and ROS, GPx, and fGCM, while a negative correlation was observed with serum albumin. Elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV) shedding events were associated with higher concentrations of ROS and MDA. A moderate negative correlation was observed between 8-OHdG and the PCR threshold cycle of EEHV shedding (Ct), indicating DNA damage may be involved in EEHV shedding in elephants.DiscussionResults revealed significant age and seasonal effects on several oxidative stress markers, indicating those factors should be considered in study design and data interpretation. There also may be physiological adaptations in oxidative stress conditions in relation to environmental changes that could impact health outcomes.

Project description:Background and aimElephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV) is a serious disease, threatening the life of young elephants. Many elephants have been infected with no clinical signs and may serve as carriers spreading this disease. It is important to monitor the disease through clinical signs and molecular diagnosis. In this study we investigated the occurrence of EEHV and the efficiency of different techniques used to monitor EEHV infection in various samples and populations of Asian elephants.Materials and methodsBlood and trunk swabs were collected from live elephants, while visceral organs (lung, digestive tract, spleen, lymph nodes, and kidney) were collected from dead elephants. EEHV was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in whole blood, trunk swabs, and visceral organs as samples, while elephant anti-EEHV immunoglobulin G (IgG) in serum was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A total of 162 samples were analyzed in this study: 129 from healthy, 26 from dead, and 7 from sick elephants.ResultsThe present study showed that the overall incidence of EEHV was 40.1% (n=65/162). Approximately 46.2% (n=12/26) and 85.7% (n=6/7) of dead and sick elephants were positive for EEHV by PCR, respectively. All sick elephants that were young and affected by EEHV clinical disease tested negative for the IgG antibody ELISA, suggesting primary EEHV infection in this group. In addition, 2.3% (n=3/129) of subclinical infections were detected using PCR, and trunk swab samples showed slightly higher sensitivity (5.3%, n=2/38) to detect EEHV than whole blood (1.2%, n=1/84). As many as, 48.4% (n=44/91) of healthy elephants were EEHV seropositive (ELISA-positive), suggesting that many elephants in Thailand had previously been infected. Overall, 30% of dead wild elephants had been infected with EEHV (n=3/10). Moreover, statistical analysis revealed no significant differences in the EEHV detection rate between different age groups or sexes (p>0.05).ConclusionPCR is better than ELISA to detect EEHV active infection in dead/sick elephants and to monitor EEHV in young elephants. ELISA is suitable for detecting previous EEHV infection and carriers, particularly adults. Theoretically, we could use both PCR and ELISA to increase the sensitivity of testing, along with observing abnormal behavior to efficiently monitor this disease. Identification of EEHV carriers within elephant populations is important to prevent transmission to healthy individuals, especially young elephants with high mortality from EEHV. This is the first report from Thailand regarding EEHV infection in wild elephants, showing the importance of preventing disease transmission between captive and wild elephants.

Dataset Information

Long-term, intermittent, low-level elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus 1A viremia in a captive Asian elephant calf.

Publications

Long-term, intermittent, low-level elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus 1A viremia in a captive Asian elephant calf.

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