Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus 4 and Clostridium perfringens Type C Fatal Co-Infection in an Adult Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus)
by
,
Taiana Costa
1, 
Guido Rocchigiani
1
,
Flavia Zendri
1,
Gabby Drake
2,
Javier Lopez
2,
Julian Chantrey
1 and
Emanuele Ricci
1,* 1
Department of Veterinary Anatomy, Physiology and Pathology, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, Leahurst Campus, University of Liverpool, Chester High Road, Neston CH64 7TE, UK
2
Chester Zoo, Upton-by-Chester, Cheshire CH2 1LH, UK
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Animals 2022, 12(3), 349; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12030349
Submission received: 3 November 2021
/
Revised: 24 January 2022
/
Accepted: 28 January 2022
/
Published: 31 January 2022
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pathology in Zoo Animals and Conservation)
Simple Summary
Elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus hemorrhagic disease is a severe and often fatal viral disease in elephants, one of the most significant causes of mortality of juvenile Asian elephants in captivity. The most lethal cases are associated with two types of herpesvirus, EEHV1A and EEHV1B. This case report documents a fatal co-infection of Clostridium perfringens type C and elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus hemorrhagic disease, caused by EEHV4, in an adult female Asian elephant. This report highlights the importance of having both EEHV-HD and clostridial enterotoxemia as potential differential diagnoses in cases of widespread tissue necrosis and internal hemorrhage in elephants, due to their macroscopic similarities, frequent co-occurrence and severity in captive Asian elephant populations.
Abstract
Elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus hemorrhagic disease (EEHV-HD) is an acute, often fatal, multisystemic hemorrhagic disease and one of the most significant causes of mortality of Asian elephants in captivity. Most fatal cases of EEHV-HD are associated with EEHV1A and EEHV1B in juveniles. This case report describes the clinical and pathological features of a fatal co-infection of Clostridium perfringens type C and EEHV-HD, caused by EEHV4, in an adult female Asian elephant. Although fatal clostridial enterotoxemia has been occasionally reported in elephants, this report highlights the importance of having both EEHV-HD and clostridial enterotoxemia as potential differential diagnoses in cases of widespread tissue necrosis and internal hemorrhage in elephants, regardless of the animal age group, due to their macroscopic similarities, frequent co-occurrence and cumulative morbid potential.
