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Tess, a 40-year-old Asian elephant at the Houston Zoo, has become the first to receive an mRNA vaccine targeting the lethal elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV). As The Guardian reports, this groundbreaking move aims to combat a virus responsible for significant juvenile deaths in zoos worldwide.
The trial vaccine, administered in June, was developed by Dr. Paul Ling of Baylor College of Medicine. Known for his research on herpes in humans, Dr. Ling designed the vaccine to boost the immunity of young elephants, who lose maternal antibodies over time. "When elephants are born, they have a tremendous amount of antibodies from their mothers," Ling explained. "Our vaccine is designed to give these young elephants the immunity they’ve lost over time."
EEHV, first identified in 1990 and described scientifically in 1999, causes a hemorrhagic disease in Asian elephants with a mortality rate of about 70% in symptomatic cases. The virus, which can spread through contact with infected trunks, is similar in impact to Ebola in humans.
Recent incidents underscore the urgency of the vaccine. This month, two juvenile elephants died from EEHV at Dublin Zoo, adding to previous losses at zoos in Chester, Melbourne, and Zurich. Though the virus also affects wild populations, its impact there is less understood, and habitat loss, poaching, and genetic isolation pose more significant threats to the fewer than 50,000 Asian elephants remaining in the wild.
A spokesperson from Chester Zoo emphasized the virus's threat to the species' long-term survival, citing rising fatalities in India, Nepal, Myanmar, and Thailand. "The only long-term solution to beating EEHV is to find a safe and effective vaccine," the spokesperson said, noting that zoo-led research is crucial.
The mRNA vaccine, akin to those used for COVID-19, was developed through a partnership between Houston Zoo, Baylor College of Medicine, and the Dallas-based company Colossal. Researchers are closely monitoring Tess, and the zoo plans to inoculate more elephants later this year if no adverse effects are observed.
While significant strides have been made, further work is needed to confirm the vaccine's efficacy in preventing EEHV, offering a glimmer of hope for the future of Asian elephants in captivity.
[Information sourced from The Guardian]
