Fatal infection caused by a genetically distinct elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus type 5 in a captive Asian elephant in Germany.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV) infection is the most common cause for lethal hemorrhagic disease in captive juvenile Asian elephants (Elephas maximus). Although EEHV1 is known as the most likely cause of fatal haemorrhagic disease in Asian elephants, EEHV5 was lately involved in lethal cases of haemorrhagic disease in captive elephants.

Case presentation

Here we report the first death of a four-year old Asian elephant diagnosed with EEHV5 in Germany. Molecular diagnosis yielded detection of EEHV5 DNA in all tested tissues. Histopathological examination revealed typical features of hemorrhagic disease in all examined organs. EEHV5 was sequenced from total DNA isolated from heart tissue by Illumina and Nanopore sequencing. Sequencing data showed 3,881

SUBMITTER: Abdelgawad A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11406788 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature