Fatal herpesvirus encephalitis in a reticulated giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata).
Authors: Hoenerhoff M J, Janovitz E B, Richman L K, Murphy D A, Butler T C, Kiupel M
Journal: Veterinary pathology
Summary
# Editorial Summary Equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) proved fatal in a reticulated giraffe housed alongside EHV-1-seropositive zebras, with post-mortem examination revealing severe meningoencephalitis characterised by asymmetric brain oedema, perivascular lymphocytic infiltration, and neuronal necrosis containing intranuclear inclusion bodies. Through virus isolation, polymerase chain reaction, and immunohistochemistry, researchers confirmed EHV-1 infection in multiple cell types including neurons, astrocytes, and endothelial cells within the cerebral tissue. Clinical signs preceding death—stumbling, incoordination, and abdominal pain—reflect the neuroinvasive nature of the infection, though the giraffe's neurological manifestations differed markedly from typical equine presentations of EHV-1 myeloencephalopathy. Whilst this represents a single fatal case, the finding has significant implications for zoological collections and mixed-species facilities: EHV-1 is not confined to equids, and housing zebras or other equine species with non-equine wildlife poses genuine zoonotic risk. Those managing equine animals in diverse settings should implement rigorous biosecurity protocols, including serological screening and strict separation, to prevent potential spillover events.
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Practical Takeaways
- •EHV-1 can transmit across species barriers and cause fatal neurological disease in non-equine animals; biosecurity protocols should segregate equids from other species in mixed-species facilities
- •Clinical signs of EHV-1 encephalitis (incoordination, stumbling, neurological dysfunction) may occur in non-equine species but may not be immediately recognized as EHV-1-related
- •Zoo and exotic animal facilities housing equids should implement strict isolation procedures and serological screening to prevent cross-species transmission events
Key Findings
- •Fatal EHV-1 meningoencephalitis was diagnosed in a reticulated giraffe with clinical signs of stumbling, incoordination, and abdominal pain
- •EHV-1 was confirmed via virus isolation from brain tissue, PCR analysis, and immunohistochemical staining of neurons, astrocytes, and endothelial cells
- •The infected giraffe had been housed with serologically positive zebras, indicating cross-species transmission of EHV-1 is possible in zoologic collections