Published in:
01-02-2020 | Herpes Virus | Brief Report
Subclinical infection of captive Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) in Thailand with elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus
Authors:
Supaphen Sripiboon, William Ditcham, Rebecca Vaughan-Higgins, Bethany Jackson, Ian Robertson, Chatchote Thitaram, Taweepoke Angkawanish, Sakuna Phatthanakunanan, Preeda Lertwatcharasarakul, Kristin Warren
Published in:
Archives of Virology
|
Issue 2/2020
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Abstract
Elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV) infection is a conservation threat to the endangered Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), causing fatal hemorrhagic disease in juvenile elephants throughout the world, including Thailand. This study revealed a subclinical EEHV1 infection rate of 5.5% in healthy captive Asian elephants in Thailand (n = 362). The virus was detected in all age classes above one year old, in both sexes, and across the country – even in facilities with no history of hemorrhagic disease (EEHV HD). Subclinical EEHV infection in Thailand urgently requires proper health management.