ELEPHANT HEALTH
Elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus hemorrhagic disease (EEHV-HD) is a leading cause of death in young elephants under human care. Though difficult to study in free-ranging elephants, confirmed cases have been reported in the wild. VIEW supports veterinary training and research to help improve how this disease is understood and managed. This includes supporting PhD student Dr. Jennifer Yu, whose work focuses on a North American serosurveillance study and new research in Asia to strengthen early detection and monitoring as part of her doctoral training.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
Elephant populations have declined dramatically over the past century, putting the species at increasing risk of extinction. These animals play a critical role in maintaining healthy ecosystems. Yet as conservation efforts work to protect remaining populations, a silent killer continues to threaten their future: elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus hemorrhagic disease (EEHV-HD).
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EEHV is a herpesvirus that has co-evolved with elephants over millions of years, and typically causes a natural infection. However, in young elephants under 15 years old, it can cause a fast-acting, often fatal hemorrhagic disease (EEHV-HD). The virus can strike rapidly, often proving fatal within a span of days. Given its devastating impact, more research is needed to better understand how the virus spreads and the risk factors for developing clinical disease, especially in wild and managed populations in range countries.
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VIEW is supporting the professional training of Dr. Jennifer Yu, a veterinarian and PhD student in Wildlife Epidemiology at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. As part of her doctoral research, Dr. Yu is leading an EEHV serosurveillance study, together with members of the North American EEHV Advisory Group, in North America and managing a multi-phase epidemiologic project in Asia.
This work is being conducted in collaboration with UC Davis One Health Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, the Houston Zoo, and Nature Conservation Society–Myanmar (NCSM). The project aims to use specialized serologic testing and VIEW’s Wildlife Health Information System (WHIS) for data collection to establish background rates of EEHV infection and disease in an Asian range state. This dataset could help guide future diagnosis, treatment, and preventive care strategies.
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The project’s ultimate goal is to better understand the disease, improve EEHV surveillance and data collection, while building knowledge needed to secure a sustainable future for elephants. We aim to strengthen early detection, enhance preventive management, and ultimately improve the health and well-being of elephant populations worldwide.
MEET THE VET
Dr. Jennifer Yu
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Dr. Jennifer Yu is a veterinarian and PhD student in Wildlife Epidemiology at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. Her background includes small animal medicine, wildlife rehabilitation medicine, and working on international One Health and conservation research and capacity-building projects. With support from VIEW, she is gaining hands-on training in epidemiologic methods and wildlife health research as she investigates the impact of EEHV in elephant populations. As a component of her PhD training, her work includes an ongoing EEHV serosurveillance study in North America and in Asia, working with local partners to assess EEHV prevalence in elephants under human care and investigate risk factors for clinical disease. The data she helps generate will be integrated into WHIS to improve long-term monitoring and response across regions.
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PROJECT UPDATES
OUR PARTNERS
This study was made possible with support from Morris Animal Foundation, whose mission is to bridge science and resources to advance the health of animals.
Visit morrisanimalfoundation.org to learn more.