title: Acute death associated with Citrobacter freundii infection in an African elephant (Loxodonta africana).
abstract: A 21-year-old male African elephant (Loxodonta africana) died suddenly with no previous medical history. Grossly, there were severe multifocal epicardial and endocardial hemorrhages of the atria and ventricles, hydropericardium, multifocal pleural hemorrhages, and severe pulmonary congestion and edema. Histologically, there was fibrinoid vasculitis and thrombosis in the heart and lung and myocardial necrosis. Citrobacter freundii was isolated in abundance in pure culture from liver and heart samples. Low levels of multiples types of elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV-6, EEHV-2B, and EEHV-3A) were detected in spleen samples, but not in heart samples. The levels of EEHV DNA found were much lower than those usually associated with acute EEHV hemorrhagic disease, and many other genomic loci that would normally be found in such cases were evidently below the level of detection. Therefore, these findings are unlikely to indicate lethal EEHV disease. Polymerase chain reaction for encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) and toxicology for oleander (Nerium oleander) were negative. Stress, resulting from recent transport, and antimicrobial therapy may have contributed to the death of this animal.
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Research Institute (PASAPTA-Pathology group), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera, Valencia, Spain (Ortega, Corpa)Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain (Orden)Laboratorio de Referencia de Escherichia coli (LREC)Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain (Blanco)Bioparc Valencia, Valencia, Spain (Carbonell, Gerique, Casares)The National Elephant Herpesvirus Laboratory, Smithsonian's National Zoo, Washington, DC (Latimer)Viral Oncology Program, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD (Hayward)Forensische Pharmakologie & Toxikologie, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland (Roemmelt, Kraemer)ANSES-Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France (Kassimi) jortega@uch.ceu.es.
authors.forename: Joaquín
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ortega
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Research Institute (PASAPTA-Pathology group), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera, Valencia, Spain (Ortega, Corpa)Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain (Orden)Laboratorio de Referencia de Escherichia coli (LREC)Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain (Blanco)Bioparc Valencia, Valencia, Spain (Carbonell, Gerique, Casares)The National Elephant Herpesvirus Laboratory, Smithsonian's National Zoo, Washington, DC (Latimer)Viral Oncology Program, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD (Hayward)Forensische Pharmakologie & Toxikologie, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland (Roemmelt, Kraemer)ANSES-Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France (Kassimi).
authors.forename: Juan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Corpa
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Research Institute (PASAPTA-Pathology group), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera, Valencia, Spain (Ortega, Corpa)Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain (Orden)Laboratorio de Referencia de Escherichia coli (LREC)Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain (Blanco)Bioparc Valencia, Valencia, Spain (Carbonell, Gerique, Casares)The National Elephant Herpesvirus Laboratory, Smithsonian's National Zoo, Washington, DC (Latimer)Viral Oncology Program, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD (Hayward)Forensische Pharmakologie & Toxikologie, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland (Roemmelt, Kraemer)ANSES-Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France (Kassimi).
authors.forename: José A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Orden
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Research Institute (PASAPTA-Pathology group), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera, Valencia, Spain (Ortega, Corpa)Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain (Orden)Laboratorio de Referencia de Escherichia coli (LREC)Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain (Blanco)Bioparc Valencia, Valencia, Spain (Carbonell, Gerique, Casares)The National Elephant Herpesvirus Laboratory, Smithsonian's National Zoo, Washington, DC (Latimer)Viral Oncology Program, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD (Hayward)Forensische Pharmakologie & Toxikologie, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland (Roemmelt, Kraemer)ANSES-Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France (Kassimi).
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blanco
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Research Institute (PASAPTA-Pathology group), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera, Valencia, Spain (Ortega, Corpa)Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain (Orden)Laboratorio de Referencia de Escherichia coli (LREC)Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain (Blanco)Bioparc Valencia, Valencia, Spain (Carbonell, Gerique, Casares)The National Elephant Herpesvirus Laboratory, Smithsonian's National Zoo, Washington, DC (Latimer)Viral Oncology Program, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD (Hayward)Forensische Pharmakologie & Toxikologie, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland (Roemmelt, Kraemer)ANSES-Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France (Kassimi).
authors.forename: María D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Carbonell
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Research Institute (PASAPTA-Pathology group), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera, Valencia, Spain (Ortega, Corpa)Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain (Orden)Laboratorio de Referencia de Escherichia coli (LREC)Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain (Blanco)Bioparc Valencia, Valencia, Spain (Carbonell, Gerique, Casares)The National Elephant Herpesvirus Laboratory, Smithsonian's National Zoo, Washington, DC (Latimer)Viral Oncology Program, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD (Hayward)Forensische Pharmakologie & Toxikologie, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland (Roemmelt, Kraemer)ANSES-Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France (Kassimi).
authors.forename: Amalia C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Gerique
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Research Institute (PASAPTA-Pathology group), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera, Valencia, Spain (Ortega, Corpa)Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain (Orden)Laboratorio de Referencia de Escherichia coli (LREC)Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain (Blanco)Bioparc Valencia, Valencia, Spain (Carbonell, Gerique, Casares)The National Elephant Herpesvirus Laboratory, Smithsonian's National Zoo, Washington, DC (Latimer)Viral Oncology Program, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD (Hayward)Forensische Pharmakologie & Toxikologie, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland (Roemmelt, Kraemer)ANSES-Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France (Kassimi).
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Latimer
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Research Institute (PASAPTA-Pathology group), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera, Valencia, Spain (Ortega, Corpa)Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain (Orden)Laboratorio de Referencia de Escherichia coli (LREC)Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain (Blanco)Bioparc Valencia, Valencia, Spain (Carbonell, Gerique, Casares)The National Elephant Herpesvirus Laboratory, Smithsonian's National Zoo, Washington, DC (Latimer)Viral Oncology Program, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD (Hayward)Forensische Pharmakologie & Toxikologie, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland (Roemmelt, Kraemer)ANSES-Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France (Kassimi).
authors.forename: Gary S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Hayward
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Research Institute (PASAPTA-Pathology group), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera, Valencia, Spain (Ortega, Corpa)Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain (Orden)Laboratorio de Referencia de Escherichia coli (LREC)Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain (Blanco)Bioparc Valencia, Valencia, Spain (Carbonell, Gerique, Casares)The National Elephant Herpesvirus Laboratory, Smithsonian's National Zoo, Washington, DC (Latimer)Viral Oncology Program, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD (Hayward)Forensische Pharmakologie & Toxikologie, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland (Roemmelt, Kraemer)ANSES-Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France (Kassimi).
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Roemmelt
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Research Institute (PASAPTA-Pathology group), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera, Valencia, Spain (Ortega, Corpa)Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain (Orden)Laboratorio de Referencia de Escherichia coli (LREC)Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain (Blanco)Bioparc Valencia, Valencia, Spain (Carbonell, Gerique, Casares)The National Elephant Herpesvirus Laboratory, Smithsonian's National Zoo, Washington, DC (Latimer)Viral Oncology Program, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD (Hayward)Forensische Pharmakologie & Toxikologie, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland (Roemmelt, Kraemer)ANSES-Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France (Kassimi).
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kraemer
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Research Institute (PASAPTA-Pathology group), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera, Valencia, Spain (Ortega, Corpa)Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain (Orden)Laboratorio de Referencia de Escherichia coli (LREC)Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain (Blanco)Bioparc Valencia, Valencia, Spain (Carbonell, Gerique, Casares)The National Elephant Herpesvirus Laboratory, Smithsonian's National Zoo, Washington, DC (Latimer)Viral Oncology Program, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD (Hayward)Forensische Pharmakologie & Toxikologie, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland (Roemmelt, Kraemer)ANSES-Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France (Kassimi).
authors.forename: Aurore
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Romey
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Research Institute (PASAPTA-Pathology group), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera, Valencia, Spain (Ortega, Corpa)Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain (Orden)Laboratorio de Referencia de Escherichia coli (LREC)Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain (Blanco)Bioparc Valencia, Valencia, Spain (Carbonell, Gerique, Casares)The National Elephant Herpesvirus Laboratory, Smithsonian's National Zoo, Washington, DC (Latimer)Viral Oncology Program, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD (Hayward)Forensische Pharmakologie & Toxikologie, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland (Roemmelt, Kraemer)ANSES-Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France (Kassimi).
authors.forename: Labib B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Kassimi
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Research Institute (PASAPTA-Pathology group), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera, Valencia, Spain (Ortega, Corpa)Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain (Orden)Laboratorio de Referencia de Escherichia coli (LREC)Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain (Blanco)Bioparc Valencia, Valencia, Spain (Carbonell, Gerique, Casares)The National Elephant Herpesvirus Laboratory, Smithsonian's National Zoo, Washington, DC (Latimer)Viral Oncology Program, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD (Hayward)Forensische Pharmakologie & Toxikologie, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland (Roemmelt, Kraemer)ANSES-Laboratoire de Santé Animale, Maisons-Alfort, France (Kassimi).
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Casares
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016971:Citrobacter freundii / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004606:Elephants; D004756:Enterobacteriaceae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary
keywords: Acute death; African elephant; Citrobacter freundii; Loxodonta africana; elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus