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Bennett, Laura, Dunham, Stephen P., Yon, Lisa, Chapman, Sarah, Kenaghan, Megan, Purdie, Laura and Tarlinton, Rachael E. (2015) Longitudinal study of Asian elephants, Elephas maximus, indicates intermittent shedding of elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus 1 during pregnancy. Veterinary Record Open, 2 (1). e000088. ISSN 2052-6113

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Abstract

Introduction: EEHV-1 is a viral infection of elephants that has been associated with a fatal haemorrhagic syndrome in Asian elephants. Previous studies have suggested that pregnant animals may shed more virus than non-pregnant animals.

Methods: This study examined whether pregnancy affected the frequency or magnitude of shedding of elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus 1 (EEHV1) using Taq man real-time PCR on trunk washes from four female elephants from a UK collection over three time periods between 2011 and 2014. These periods included pregnancies in two animals (period 1 and period 3). Behavioural observations made by keepers were also assessed.

Results: During period 1 there was a high degree of social hierarchical instability which led to a hierarchy change, and was associated with aggressive behaviour. Also during period 1 EEHV-1 shedding was of a higher magnitude and frequency than in the latter two time periods.

Conclusions: These results suggest that there is no clear relationship between shedding and pregnancy, and that behavioural stressors may be related to an increase in EEHV-1 shedding.

Item Type:	Article
RIS ID:	https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/759584
Schools/Departments:	University of Nottingham, UK > Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > School of Veterinary Medicine and Science
Identification Number:	10.1136/vetreco-2014-000088
Depositing User:	Tarlinton, Dr Rachael
Date Deposited:	04 Mar 2016 09:39
Last Modified:	04 May 2020 17:15
URI:	https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/id/eprint/32104

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