Quantification and risk factor analysis of elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus-haemorrhagic disease fatalities in Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) in Europe (1985-2017)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.19227/jzar.v9i1.553Keywords:
EEHV, risk factor analysis, sex, transport, weaningAbstract
Elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus-haemorrhagic disease (EEHV-HD) is frequently stated to be the most common cause of death in captive Asian elephant Elephas maximus populations in Europe and North America. However, the impact on the European population has not been quantified. The aim of this study was to quantify and describe EEHV deaths in Asian elephants in Europe between 1985 and 2017, and to evaluate potential risk factors. Asian elephants born in the study period were tracked for eight years, or until death, depending on which occurred first. Excluding stillborn and perinatal deaths (<1 day old), 44 elephants died within the study period. EEHV-HD accounted for 57% of these cases, and was therefore the most frequent cause of death. While all known Asian elephant endemic EEHV-genotypes were represented, EEHV-1A was responsible for 80% of EEHV deaths. The median age of EEHV fatalities was 2.6 years and there was no difference in risk between males and females. The only significant risk factor for EEHV death, analysed using Cox regression analysis, was an institutional history of a previous EEHV death. Importantly, exposure to new elephants was not associated with an increased risk of EEHV death.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).