Elephant Health
In the UK, a vaccine against elephant herpes will be tested
Lydia Sorokina, XX2 century
Employees of the Chester Zoo and a team of scientists from the University of Surrey have begun clinical trials of a vaccine against a deadly virus for elephants. We are talking about the endotheliotropic elephant herpes virus (EEHV), which often causes hemorrhagic disease in animals, and 85% of sick elephants die as a result.
EEHV was discovered back in the 1990s, but there is still no effective treatment for individuals affected by this virus. The disease most often takes the lives of elephants aged 18 months to 3 years. "When animals show symptoms of EEHV — lethargy and wounds in the mouth — it usually becomes too late," says Katie Morrison from Chester Zoo.
According to the calculations of the Berlin veterinarian Sonia Jesus Fontes, since 1985, EEHV has caused 52% of Asian elephant deaths in European zoos. And in In North America, EEHV has caused 50% of the deaths of these animals. In general, the endotheliotropic elephant herpes virus is a nightmare for any zoo. It is likely that EEHV is transmitted from elderly elephants to babies when the cubs are weaned and they cease to be protected by maternal antibodies.
Aai was 18 months old when she died of elephant herpes.
According to scientists who are now starting clinical trials of the vaccine against EEHV, it is almost impossible to prevent infection of animals, but it is really possible to prevent a serious course of the disease and the death of mammals. The developed vaccine is safe and similar to the vaccine used to immunize elephants against cowpox. If the tests confirm that the vaccine is effective, it will be possible to vaccinate against EEHV both elephants that live in nature reserves and those that live in the wild.
The story that happened a couple of years ago is encouraging — then a young elephant Indali became infected with EEHV at the Chester Zoo.
In 2019, the veterinary team at Chester Zoo worked around the clock to save Indali from a dangerous virus.
For two weeks, Indali was actively treated with antiviral drugs, immunostimulants and blood plasma transfusions. To date, Indali is five years old, and she is absolutely healthy.
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