🔗 Share this article Vaccine Advancement for Deadly Elephant Virus A leading zoo has suffered the loss of seven baby elephants to the disease caused by the virus Researchers have achieved a major advance in creating a novel immunization to combat a fatal virus that targets juvenile elephants. The inoculation, produced by an international research team, aims to stop the severe disease caused by elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV), which is currently a primary cause of death in juvenile Asian elephants. The study included elephants at a prominent zoo In trials that included adult elephants at Chester Zoo, the vaccine was found to be safe and, importantly, to stimulate components of the immune system that assists in combating viruses. A lead scientist called this as "a pivotal step in our work to protect Asian elephants". It is hoped that the result of this pioneering study will open the door to preventing the deaths of juvenile elephants from the harmful disease caused by this virus. Severe Consequences EEHV has had a particularly destructive effect in zoos. At one facility alone, seven young elephants have succumbed to it over the last decade. It has also been found in wild elephant herds and in some sanctuaries and care centers. It causes a haemorrhagic disease - uncontrolled hemorrhaging that can be fatal within 24 hours. It leads to death in over eighty percent of cases in young elephants. The following phase is to test the new vaccine in more vulnerable elephants Understanding the Threat Why EEHV can be so dangerous is remains unclear. Numerous mature elephants carry the virus - seemingly with no adverse effects on their well-being. But it is thought that juvenile calves are especially susceptible when they are being weaned, and when the protective antibodies from the maternal nutrition decrease. At this phase, a calf's immune system is in a precarious state and it can become overpowered. "It may lead to extremely serious disease," Dr Katie Edwards stated. "It impacts wild elephants, but we lack an precise count of how many deaths in total it has caused. For elephants in captivity though, there have been more than 100 deaths." Vaccine Development The scientists aim the vaccine will eventually be employed to protect elephants in their natural environment The research team, headed by veterinary scientists, created the new vaccine using a proven "framework". Essentially, the core design of this vaccine is the same to one commonly employed to vaccinate elephants against a virus called a related virus. The scientists seeded this immunization framework with proteins from EEHV - non-infectious parts of the virus that the elephant's defense system might recognise and respond to. In a world-first experiment, the team tested the new vaccine in several fit, mature elephants at Chester Zoo, then examined blood tests from the innoculated animals. The lead researcher commented that the results, released in a scientific journal, were "more successful than anticipated". "The results demonstrated, clearly that the vaccine was able to stimulate the production of T cells, that are crucial to combating virus attacks." Next Phases The subsequent phase for the scientists is to try the vaccine in younger elephants, which are the animals most vulnerable to serious disease. The aim is to create a vaccine that can be transported and kept where it is needed The current immunization involves multiple injections to be administered, so an additional objective is to work out if the equivalent protective dose can be provided in a more straightforward way - perhaps with fewer injections. Dr Edwards clarified: "In the end we aim to use this vaccine in the elephants that are at risk, so we need to make sure that we can deliver it to where it's necessary." The project lead continued: "We think this is a major advancement, and not necessarily only for the elephants, but because it additionally shows that you can develop and use vaccines to help endangered species."