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The Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium has announced that its elephant calf Tsuni died Thursday after a sudden, brief battle with elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus. The calf was 2 years old and resided with her herd at the International Conservation Center in Somerset.
According to the zoo's Facebook page, EEHV is a prevalent, challenging disease that has plagued elephants both in human care and in the wild. Younger elephants are at the highest risk, from birth to age 8, with an 85% mortality rate.
Tsuni's EEHV was detected through routine blood testing on Feb. 8, even though she presented no visible clinical signs, the zoo reported. The effects of the virus progressed very quickly and, despite immediate treatment and support, she did not survive.
The Facebook post said Tsuni received around-the-clock care from the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium animal health and care teams, ICC staff and local and regional zoos. Experts shared their experience with the disease, assisted with plasma transfusions, fluid therapies and antiviral medications and zoos across the country sent fresh and frozen plasma donations from their elephants. All of these treatments were administered in an effort to overcome the fatal, hemorrhagic disease, the news release stated.
"Tsuni held a special place in the hearts of staff and visitors alike," said Dr. Jeremy Goodman, Zoo President and CEO. "Her loss is devastating to our entire zoo family. Her ability to fight through her early life medical challenges had been such an inspiration to everyone that worked with her. She will be terribly missed by everyone here as well as elephant lovers all over the world."