College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine

Scientists tackle elephant virus

Scientists may be a step closer towards the development of a vaccine against a virus that is killing scores of Asian elephants, many of them in captivity.

Asian elephants are listed as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Threat to Asian elephants

Asian elephants are threatened by loss of habitat, poaching and illegal trade. There are believed to be around 40-50,000 Asians elephants left in the wild.

Zoos around the world are playing a vital role in conservation efforts.

However, their work over the last 20 years has been severely hampered by a fatal haemorrhagic disease caused by elephant endotheliotropic herpesviruses (EEHVs).

Disease

The disease is usually deadly for young elephants aged between one and four years.

While mainly a concern for captive elephants the virus is also found in wild animals.

Anti-viral medications have been used to treat infected animals but their efficacy is unknown.

Elephant endotheliotropic herpesviruses

EEHVs were discovered 15 years ago and are known to have killed 80 captive animals.

However, the viruses are difficult to study and none of them have been isolated in the laboratory.

High throughput DNA sequencing is revolutionising the discovery, detection and analysis of all pathogens.

Mr Mick WatsonDirector of Ark-Genomics, at The Roslin Institute

Genetic knowledge

University scientists from The Roslin Institute, working with the University of Glasgow and the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories, have now deciphered the genetic maps of the two most lethal kinds of EEHV.

They used high-throughput DNA sequencing technology to map the genomes of two viruses and discovered many genes not found in other herpesviruses.

The findings will help scientists improve diagnostic tests and develop vaccines with the aim of helping protect the flagship species from extinction.

It is vital that we undertake successful conservation activities to prevent the extinction of these wonderful animals. However, despite the best efforts of conservationists around the world, attempts at breeding Asian elephants are being threatened by deadly EEHVs over which we have very little power at present.

Dr Andrew DavisonMedical Research Council – University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research

This is an excellent example of the power of collaboration between three institutions involved in virus surveillance and research.”

Prof Falko SteinbachHead of the Mammalian Virology Group at the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency

The research is published in the Journal of Virology.