News Excerpt:
Probing the Hemorrhagic Disease (HD) among the Asian elephant population, a new study assessed the circulation of the Elephant Endotheliotropic HerpesVirus subtypes (EEHV) responsible for the recent rise in the disease, as well as its pathogenesis.
About Asian Elephant:
- Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) is classified as endangered according to the IUCN Red List.
- It is placed in Schedule I and Part I of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act (1972) conferring it the highest level of protection.
- Asian elephants are the National heritage animals of our country and account for 55% of the total world elephant population.
- They live in the tropical forests and grasslands of Southeast Asia.
- They’re a little smaller than African elephants but can grow nine feet tall and weigh nearly six tons.
- This population has been decreasing due to the increasing outbreak of EEHV-HD.
About Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus (EEHV):
- EEHV is a double-stranded DNA virus that is classified in the family Herpesviridae.
- It causes acute, fatal hemorrhagic disease in wild and captive juvenile Asian and African elephants.
- If severe, EEHV can result in death within 24 hours of infection.
- Asian elephants are an endangered species, therefore EEHV poses a severe threat to conservation efforts.
- EEHV consists of eight genotypes that include EEHV1 through EEHV6, each varying in their lethality.
