COLUMBUS ZOO AND AQUARIUM: BY THE NUMBERS
medical events performed on 921 animals 6,074
103 175 282
ULTRASOUND EXAMS CT STUDIES RADIOGRAPH STUDIES
12 5
57,534 TOTAL TESTS CONDUCTED ON 1,814 ANIMALS
Number of senior veterinary students hosted Number of universities these students represented
Animal Health staff 2 4 7
20+ The Zoo’s Animal Health department utilized more than 20 outside specialists from 7 institutions for assistance with cases. These specialists include both veterinary and human medicine experts from several universities and hospitals.
Number of scientific articles authored by Columbus Zoo’s Animal Health staff
Number of book chapters written by
Number of professional meetings where Animal Health staff did presentations
CUTTING-EDGE DNA LAB TO PROTECT ELEPHANTS FROM POTENTIALLY FATAL VIRUS
In the fall of 2022, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium opened a long-planned, on-site DNA testing lab as part of its state-of-the-art Animal Health Center. The Columbus Zoo is just the fourth U.S. zoological park to have an on-site lab, which can provide veterinarians with an early warning of an active elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus (EEHV) infection in the Zoo’s elephant herd. The lab performs tests, which quickly and accurately diagnose infectious diseases and provide genetic information. EEHV is found in both African and Asian elephants in their native ranges and human care. While the virus can also be asymptomatic and not cause illness, it can rapidly become fatal, particularly for younger elephants. In June 2022, the Columbus Zoo’s 13-year-old beloved male Asian elephant, Beco, succumbed to the virus less than 52 hours after first showing signs of illness despite the aggressive treatment provided to him.
The time saved by the Zoo’s new on-site EEHV lab and its ability to provide real-time data is priceless. Regular blood and trunk wash samples tested for the EEHV virus, along with the ability of zookeepers to notice subtle changes in behavior, can alert veterinarians to the active virus early, in time to aggressively treat the elephant. Since the lab became fully operational, the Zoo has tested blood samples on its higher-risk elephants twice a week and monitored trunk washes weekly on the entire herd. In partnership with Smithsonian’s National Zoo, which worked closely with the Zoo during the lab’s creation, and the national EEHV Advisory Group, the Zoo hopes data collected will not only help elephants in their care and at facilities across the U.S., but also help in the creation of an EEHV vaccine. The lab was made possible thanks to a wonderful donor family and additional donations received by the Zoo’s supportive community through Beco’s Memorial Fund are being used to support the crucial operations of the new EEHV lab.
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