Elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV) immunohistochemistry in the Asian Elephant (Elephas maximus).

Abstract

Elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV) infections can lead to a fatal infection in juvenile elephants. To this date no EEHV immunohistochemistry records are available. With this study we tried to localise the virus antigen by using immunohistochemistry. The material used was PCR positive material collected from an elephant from a Dutch zoo. Histological evaluation was hampered by bacterial overgrowth and dissociating epithelium in the slides. We tried various staining protocols to localise the antigen based on other immunohistochemistry stains, other protocols and previous experience. The antibodies used in this study were polyclonal rabbit anti-peptide antibodies against EEHV-1A. Two different antibodies were used: U73 OBP and U41 MDBP. We started out using both antibodies but eventually switched to only testing and varying with the MDBP antibody. We were not able to locate either OBP and MDBP antibodies, however this study can be seen as a starting protocol for future studies and stainings.