NOVEL DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC APPROACHES TO ELEPHANT ENDOTHELIOTROPIC HERPESVIRUS 1A HEMORRHAGIC DISEASE IN A CAPTIVE JUVENILE ASIAN ELEPHANT (ELEPHAS MAXIMUS)

Abstract: Novel diagnostic and therapeutic methods were utilized in the successful management of severe elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus hemorrhagic disease (EEHV-HD) in a 1.9-yr-old captive Asian elephant (Elephas maximus). High levels of EEHV1A viremia were detected for 12 d. In addition to established EEHV treatments, therapies included famciclovir-fortified elephant whole blood and plasma, mesenchymal stem cells harvested from elephant umbilical tissue, and aminocaproic acid. Testing conducted to examine the effects of EEHV infection on hemostasis suggested marked intravascular coagulation with decreased plasminogen activity and increased D-dimer concentrations. Thromboelastography was used to assess the efficacy of aminocaproic acid and demonstrated hypofibrinolysis on samples taken after drug administration, as compared with samples from healthy adult Asian elephants. A serological assay for a novel EEHV1A-specific antibody marker (E52) was developed due to lack of seroconversion to a previously established EEHV1A-specific antibody marker (ORFQ) and showed a sustained increase after EEHV-HD illness.

摘要：在一只1.9岁的圈养亚洲象（Elephas maximus）严重的大象内皮嗜性疱疹病毒出血性疾病（EEHV - HD）的成功治疗中，采用了新的诊断和治疗方法。在12天内检测到高水平的EEHV1A病毒血症。除了已有的EEHV治疗方法外，治疗还包括含泛昔洛韦的大象全血和血浆、从大象脐带组织中采集的间充质干细胞以及氨基己酸。为检测EEHV感染对止血的影响而进行的测试表明，存在明显的血管内凝血，表现为纤溶酶原活性降低和D - 二聚体浓度升高。血栓弹力图用于评估氨基己酸的疗效，与健康成年亚洲象的样本相比，给药后采集的样本显示出纤维蛋白溶解减弱。由于对先前确定的EEHV1A特异性抗体标志物（ORFQ）未出现血清转化，因此开发了一种针对新型EEHV1A特异性抗体标志物（E52）的血清学检测方法，该标志物在EEHV - HD疾病发生后持续升高。