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Fayette MA, Minich DJ, Sylvester H, Latimer E. FIRST DETECTION OF CLINICAL DISEASE DUE TO ELEPHANT ENDOTHELIOTROPIC HERPESVIRUS 7A IN TWO AFRICAN ELEPHANTS ( LOXODONTA AFRICANA) IN HUMAN CARE. J Zoo Wildl Med 2024; 55:290-294. [PMID: 38453514 DOI: 10.1638/2023-0034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/04/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Multiple species of elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV) have caused fatal hemorrhagic disease in African (Loxodonta africana) and Asian (Elephas maximus) elephants. To date, EEHV7 has been detected only in benign pulmonary and skin nodules and in saliva of African elephants and has not been associated with clinical illness. Low-level viremia due to EEHV7A was detected via qPCR in two subadult African elephants during routine surveillance. Hematologic changes were noted in both elephants, including leukopenia, lymphopenia, monocytopenia, and band heterophilia. Treatment was initiated with famciclovir, antimicrobials, and rectal fluids, and one elephant received plasma transfusions due to a progressive decrease in platelet count. Both elephants remained asymptomatic throughout the viremias, with rapid resolution of hematologic abnormalities. These cases add to the current understanding of the epidemiology of EEHV in African elephants; to the authors' knowledge, they represent the first documentation of clinical disease due to EEHV7 infection in any elephant.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Hannah Sylvester
- National Elephant Herpesvirus Laboratory, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, DC 20008, USA
| | - Erin Latimer
- National Elephant Herpesvirus Laboratory, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, DC 20008, USA
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Prado NA, Armstrong EE, Brown JL, Goldenberg SZ, Leimgruber P, Pearson VR, Maldonado JE, Campana MG. Genomic resources for Asian (Elephas maximus) and African savannah elephant (Loxodonta africana) conservation and health research. J Hered 2023; 114:529-538. [PMID: 37246890 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esad034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023] Open
Abstract
We provide novel genomic resources to help understand the genomic traits involved in elephant health and to aid conservation efforts. We sequence 11 elephant genomes (5 African savannah, 6 Asian) from North American zoos, including 9 de novo assemblies. We estimate elephant germline mutation rates and reconstruct demographic histories. Finally, we provide an in-solution capture assay to genotype Asian elephants. This assay is suitable for analyzing degraded museum and noninvasive samples, such as feces and hair. The elephant genomic resources we present here should allow for more detailed and uniform studies in the future to aid elephant conservation efforts and disease research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia A Prado
- Biology Department, College of Arts and Sciences, Adelphi University, Garden City, NY, United States
- Center for Conservation Genomics, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, DC, United States
- Endocrinology Research Laboratory, Center for Species Survival, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, VA, United States
| | - Ellie E Armstrong
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States
| | - Janine L Brown
- Endocrinology Research Laboratory, Center for Species Survival, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, VA, United States
| | - Shifra Z Goldenberg
- Conservation Ecology Center, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, DC, United States
- Conservation Science and Wildlife Health, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, Escondido, CA, United States
| | - Peter Leimgruber
- Conservation Ecology Center, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Virginia R Pearson
- Glenn Rall Laboratory, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Jesús E Maldonado
- Center for Conservation Genomics, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Michael G Campana
- Center for Conservation Genomics, Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, DC, United States
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Steyrer C, Miller M, Hewlett J, Buss P, Hooijberg EH. Markers of inflammation in free-living African elephants (Loxodonta africana): Reference intervals and diagnostic performance of acute phase reactants. Vet Clin Pathol 2023; 52 Suppl 1:75-86. [PMID: 36303463 DOI: 10.1111/vcp.13197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2022] [Revised: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Acute phase reactants (APRs) have not been investigated in free-living African elephants (Loxodonta africana), and there is little information about negative APRs albumin and serum iron in elephants. OBJECTIVES We aimed to generate reference intervals (RIs) for APRs for free-living African elephants, and to determine the diagnostic performance of APRs in apparently healthy elephants and elephants with inflammatory lesions. METHODS Stored serum samples from 49 apparently healthy and 16 injured free-living elephants were used. The following APRs and methods were included: albumin, bromocresol green; haptoglobin, colorimetric assay; serum amyloid A (SAA), multispecies immunoturbidometric assay, and serum iron with ferrozine method. Reference intervals were generated using the nonparametric method. Indices of diagnostic accuracy were determined by receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. RESULTS Reference intervals were: albumin 41-55 g/L, haptoglobin 0.16-3.51 g/L, SAA < 10 mg/L, and serum iron 8.60-16.99 μmol/L. Serum iron and albumin concentrations were lower and haptoglobin and SAA concentrations were higher in the injured group. Serum iron had the best ability to predict health or inflammation, followed by haptoglobin, SAA, and albumin, with the area under the ROC curve ranging from 0.88-0.93. CONCLUSIONS SAA concentrations were lower in healthy African vs Asian elephants, and species-specific RIs should be used. Serum iron was determined to be a diagnostically useful negative APR which should be added to APR panels for elephants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Steyrer
- Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies and Centre for Veterinary Wildlife Research, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Michele Miller
- Department of Science and Innovation-National Research Foundation Centre of Excellence for Biomedical TB Research, South African Medical Research Council Centre for Tuberculosis Research, Division of Molecular Biology and Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Jennie Hewlett
- Department of Production Animal Studies and Centre for Veterinary Wildlife Research, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Peter Buss
- Department of Production Animal Studies and Centre for Veterinary Wildlife Research, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.,Veterinary Wildlife Services, South African National Parks, South Africa
| | - Emma H Hooijberg
- Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies and Centre for Veterinary Wildlife Research, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
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Hooijberg EH, Cray C. Acute phase reactants in nondomesticated mammals-A veterinary clinical pathology perspective. Vet Clin Pathol 2023; 52 Suppl 1:19-36. [PMID: 36289012 DOI: 10.1111/vcp.13189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Applications for acute phase reactants (APRs) in nondomesticated mammals include identifying inflammatory disease, monitoring the course of specific disease processes and recovery during rehabilitation, detecting preclinical or subclinical disease, being used as bioindicators for monitoring population and ecosystem health, and as markers of stress and animal welfare. Serum amyloid A, haptoglobin, C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, albumin, and iron are most commonly measured. The procedure for evaluating an APR in a nondomesticated mammalian species should follow a stepwise approach beginning with an assessment of analytical performance, followed by an evaluation of overlap performance, clinical performance, and impact on patient outcomes and management. The lack of species-specific standards and antibodies for nondomesticated mammals presents a challenge, and more attention needs to be focused on assessing cross-reactivity and ensuring adequate analytical performance of APR assays. Sample selection for the initial evaluation of APRs should consider preanalytical influences and should originate from animals with confirmed inflammatory disease and healthy animals. Reference intervals should be generated according to published guidelines. Further evaluation should focus on assessing the diagnostic utility of APRs in specific disease scenarios relevant to a species. Greater attention should be paid to assay performance and uniformity of methods when using APRs for population and ecosystem surveillance. Veterinary clinical pathologists should work closely with zoo veterinarians and wildlife researchers to optimize the accuracy and utility of APR measurements in these various conservation medicine scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma H Hooijberg
- Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies and Centre for Veterinary Wildlife Research, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Carolyn Cray
- Division of Comparative Pathology, Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
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Yang N, Bao M, Zhu B, Shen Q, Guo X, Li W, Tang R, Zhu D, Tang Y, Phalen DN, Zhang L. Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus 1, 4 and 5 in China: Occurrence in Multiple Sample Types and Implications for Wild and Captive Population Surveillance. Viruses 2022; 14:v14020411. [PMID: 35216004 PMCID: PMC8875873 DOI: 10.3390/v14020411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Elephant endotheliotropic herpesviruses (EEHVs) are important causes of death in both captive and wild Asian elephants (Elephas maximus). Nothing is known about the prevalence of EEHVs in wild or domestic elephants in China. To determine if EEHVs are present in elephants in China, 126 wild elephants from three populations and 202 captive individuals from zoos (n = 155) and the Wild Elephant Valley (n = 47) were screened using semi-nested polymerase chain reaction assays with EEHV-redundant and EEHV1/4/5-specific primers. EEHV1B and EEHV4 were detected in samples from both wild (EEHV1B:8/126; EEHV4:2/126) and captive (EEHV1B:5/155; EEHV4:9/155) elephants, while EEHV1A (six cases) and EEHV5 (one case) were only present in the captive elephants from the Wild Elephant Valley. EEHV1 was detected in blood and trunk and oral swabs; EEHV4 was detected in trunk and oral swabs as well as feces; EEHV5 was found in trunk and oral swabs. No significant age or sex association with EEHV1A, EEHV1B, or EEHV5 positivity was observed. An age association with EEHV4 positivity was found, with all unweaned elephants being EEHV4 positive, but an association with the sex of the elephant was not observed. These findings represent the first documentation of EEHV presence in captive and wild elephants in China. These findings also document EEHV1B and EEHV4 shedding in feces and demonstrate the utility of fecal screening as a tool for investigating EEHV4 infection in wild populations of elephants. It is recommended that EEHV testing be included in surveillance programs for captive and wild elephants in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nian Yang
- Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Ecological Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Ecology, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; (N.Y.); (B.Z.); (R.T.); (D.Z.); (Y.T.)
| | - Mingwei Bao
- Wild Elephant Valley, Jinghong 666100, China;
| | - Biru Zhu
- Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Ecological Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Ecology, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; (N.Y.); (B.Z.); (R.T.); (D.Z.); (Y.T.)
| | - Qingzhong Shen
- Ecotourism Management Institute of Yunnan Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve, Jinghong 666100, China;
| | - Xianming Guo
- Research Institute of Xishuangbanna National Nature Reserve, Jinghong 666100, China;
| | - Wenwen Li
- Key Laboratory of Coastal Science and Integrated Management, First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao 266061, China;
| | - Ruchun Tang
- Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Ecological Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Ecology, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; (N.Y.); (B.Z.); (R.T.); (D.Z.); (Y.T.)
| | - Di Zhu
- Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Ecological Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Ecology, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; (N.Y.); (B.Z.); (R.T.); (D.Z.); (Y.T.)
| | - Yinpu Tang
- Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Ecological Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Ecology, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; (N.Y.); (B.Z.); (R.T.); (D.Z.); (Y.T.)
| | - David N. Phalen
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
- Schubot Exotic Bird Health Center, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, 701 Farm to Market 2818 Service Road, College Station, TX 77840, USA
- Correspondence: (D.N.P.); (L.Z.)
| | - Li Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Biodiversity and Ecological Engineering of Ministry of Education, Department of Ecology, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China; (N.Y.); (B.Z.); (R.T.); (D.Z.); (Y.T.)
- Correspondence: (D.N.P.); (L.Z.)
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