Clostridium novyi type B causes fatal hemorrhagic disease in wild Asian elephants

The population of Asian elephants, an endangered species, is decreasing significantly due to anthropogenic interference in India. Research on Asian elephant disease is largely confined to observations reported from captive populations. The present study explored 11 disease investigation cases whose clinicopathological changes were similar to those of fatal hemorrhagic disease caused by Bacillus anthracis. We used molecular diagnostic approaches such as PCR (polymerase chain reaction), quantitative PCR, 16S metagenomics analysis and whole-metagenome sequencing for identification of the etiological agent responsible for these wild elephant mortalities. 16S metagenomics analysis revealed the presence of Clostridium hemolyticum as the dominant bacteria in all the mortality events. In contrast, flagellin gene-specific identification of all the samples and whole metagenomics analysis of blood samples collected from the ear pinna of a freshly deceased elephant revealed Clostridium novyi type B as the sole pathogenic agent responsible for the death of elephants. This study provides the first evidence of the involvement of Clostridium novyi type B in the death of wild elephants with similar clinical manifestations to anthrax. The current study also provides ample evidence of the need to explore investigations of emerging diseases of wild elephants to conserve these large mammals.