LYMPHOID FOLLICULAR VULVITIS IN AFRICAN (LOXODONTA-AFRICANA) AND ASIAN (ELEPHAS-MAXIMUS) ELEPHANTS

Hyperemic nodules and plaques in the distal urogenital canal of Africa n (Loxodonta africana) and Asian (Elephas maximus) elephants were inve stigated to determine if they represented a potentially transmissible venereal disease. The distal urogenital canals of 29 captive Asian, 19 captive African, and 30 free-ranging African elephants were examined. Biopsies were obtained from 10 captive Asian, four captive African, a nd 28 free-ranging African elephants. Biopsies from four elephants (th ree Asian, one African) were examined ultrastructurally. Bacteriologic cultures of the distal urogenital canal were performed on 15 captive elephants (nine African, six Asian), nine with lesions and six without lesions. Hyperemic nodules and plaques were identified in the distal urogenital canals of 62% of captive Asian, 89% of captive African, and 90% of free-ranging African elephants examined, including 10 of 11 pr egnant free-ranging elephants. These lesions were characterized histop athologically by aggregates of coalescing reactive lymphoid follicles. No viral agents were identified, and no specific bacteria were consis tently associated with lesions. These highly prevalent lesions appear to be reactions of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues to nonspecific a ntigenic challenges in the distal urogenital canal and appear to have no clinical significance.