Sedgwick County Zoo elephant successfully treated for potentially deadly herpes virus
A Sedgwick County Zoo elephant has been successfully treated for EEHV, a form of herpes virus that’s potentially deadly to pachyderms, the Zoo announced Wednesday.
It’s the best news since June 11, when zoo officials announced that Zuberi, a 12-year-old African elephant from Swaziland, was undergoing treatment for elevated levels of elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus, known as EEHV.
“The keepers and veterinary staff were extensively prepared to treat this illness and they worked around-the-clock to provide Zuberi with the very best care,” said Jeff Ettling, zoo president and CEO.
Zuberi was treated with famciclovir, the same drug used in humans to treat recurrent cold sores, genital herpes or shingles.
Zoo veterinarians bribed her to swallow 65 human-sized pills per dose by giving her two of her favorite liquids — ranch salad dressing and Gatorade — to wash it down.
She also got transfusions of blood plasma from healthy elephants.
“Human health care partners at Ascension Via Christi lent equipment and services to prepare plasma for elephant-to-elephant transfusions,” the zoo’s statement said. “Colleagues at other zoos around the country provided expertise, support, and even elephant plasma to assist in Zuberi’s treatment.”
Practically all elephants have some level of EEHV in their bloodstream, which usually remains latent and harmless.
But it can run wild — nobody knows why — and cause a deadly form of hemorrhagic disease.
Symptoms generally begin with lethargy and loss of appetite and can progress to swelling and lesions, according to a fact sheet from the International Elephant Foundation.
Zuberi’s disease was caught early, before she showed signs of a serious infection.
That helped her recovery, although she’s still receiving medication for secondary effects of the infection.
The Indianapolis Zoo had four cases of EEHV in 2019. The first two elephants to develop the infection died, but the later two were saved with treatment.
Experts from that zoo consulted with Sedgwick County on Zuberi’s treatment, officials said.
