The breakthrough of a deadly elephant virus vaccine

Researchers have made a breakthrough in the development of a new vaccine to prevent a deadly virus that affects young elephants.

The vaccine, produced by the International Research Team, aims to prevent a serious illness caused by the endotheliotropic herpesvirus elephant (EEHV), which is currently a leading cause of death in young Asian elephants.

In the trials involving adult elephants at the Chester Zoo, it was revealed that the vaccine was safe and, crucial, activating a part of the immune system that helps fight the virus.

Profa Falko Steinbach of British Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) and University of Surrey said this was “a significant moment in our work to protect the Asian elephants.”

He hopes that the result of this first race test will open the way to prevent the death of young elephants from a dangerous disease caused by this virus.

Eehv had a particularly devastating impact in zoos. At the Chester Zoo, seven children’s elephants died of him in the last decade. It was also found in the herds of wild elephants and in some shrines and elephants of an orphanage.

This causes a hemorrhagic disease – uncontrolled bleeding that can be fatally within 24 hours. This results in death in more than 80% of cases in minor elephants.

Why Eehv can be so dangerous is still unknown. Many adult elephants wear a virus – obviously without a negative effect on their health. But the young calves are considered to be particularly vulnerable when separated and when immune antibodies from breast milk decrease.

At this stage, the immune veal system is in sensitive balance and can become overwhelmed. “It can cause a really serious illness,” said Dr. Katie Edwards, a preservation scientist at the Chester Zoo for BBC News.

“It affects wild elephants, but we do not have the exact number of how many deaths have caused. For elephants in human care [in zoos and sanctuaries] Although there were more than 100 deaths. “

The research team, led by veterinary scientists at the University of Surrey and Apha, developed a new vaccine using a tried and tested “scaffolding”. Basically, the basic structure of this vaccine is identical to the routine that is routinely used for the immunization of the elephant against the virus called Cowpox.

Scientists have sown this vaccine structure with proteins from the EEHV – non -infective bits of viruses to which the elephant’s immune system can recognize and respond.

In the first trial, the team tested a new vaccine in three healthy, an adult elephant at the Chester Zoo, and then analyzed blood samples of abstract animals.

Prof. Steinbach told BBC News that the results, published in Nature Communications, were “better than we hoped”.

“They showed, unequivocally that the vaccine managed to encourage production [immune cells called] T cells, which are key to combating viral infections. “

The next step for scientists is the testing of vaccines for younger elephants, which are the most endured to serious illnesses.

Currently vaccination requires that four injections be given, so another goal is to determine if the same protective dose can be given in a simpler way – perhaps with less stitches.

Dr. Edwards explained: “We ultimately want to use this vaccine in elephants that are in danger, so we want to be sure that we can reach the place where it is necessary.”

Prof. Steinbach added: “We think this is a significant step forward, not necessarily only for elephants, but because it also shows that you can design and apply vaccines to help with threatened species.”