Tackling Devastating Herpesvirus Infection in Elephants

Elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV) is an infectious disease of both wild and captive Asian and African elephants. The virus causes a devastating hemorrhagic disease associated with high mortality rates in young calves. Although there are symptomatic treatments available for EEHV-infected elephants, there is no true cure for the disease. T-cells are a type of white blood cell known to provide protection against herpesviruses in other species. Researchers will study how elephant T-cells respond to EEHV. Identifying which EEHV proteins elicit effective T-cell responses in elephants will help researchers design a vaccine against EEHV that can prevent hemorrhagic disease and safeguard the long-term survival of elephants around the world.