Abstract:
Lymphoid nodules associated with Cowdry Type A intranuclear inclusions in epithelial and syncytial
cells were found in the lungs of 74% of 50 African elephants in the Kruger National Park. Subsequent
studies proved these were caused by a herpes virus (Erasmus, McCully, Pienaar, Young, Pieterse & Els,
1971). The disease appears to be subclinical or latent. This virus, in common with other herpes viruses,
might be more pathogenic in some other host. The pathogenesis of the lymphoid nodules and the various
stages of their formation are given and the detailed characteristics are illustrated.