A complete epidemiologic picture of EEHV and the clarification of the EEHV status of individual elephants and their potential for shedding the virus would aid in the prediction of future outbreaks, as well as identifying the mode of transmission, preventing the transmission of the disease, recognizing the occurrence of the disease early to allow for immediate treatment, and identifying predisposing factors that make specific elephants more susceptible to the disease. Ultimately all of these accomplishments will serve to prevent future EEHV fatalities. This study will also factor in the projection of the potential impact this disease poses on the wild elephant populations in Asia. Using banked and newly collected serum and whole blood samples, both retrospective and prospective studies will be performed and results correlated to epidemiological findings within the North American elephant population. Understanding EEHV and developing means of management and treatment is a priority item of the International Elephant Foundation. IEF funding supports multiple research efforts and the National Elephant Herpesvirus Laboratory.

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