• Nail Cracks in Elephants
• Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Elephant Diseases

• Common Reasons for Presentation
• By Main Signs/System Affected
• By Disease Agent

This list page enables you to scroll down the diseases of elephants. The diseases are grouped together, first indicating COMMON DISEASES AND REASONS FOR PRESENTATION, then with SIMILAR DISEASES DEFINED BY THE MAIN SIGNS OR SYSTEM AFFECTED e.g. all the diseases causing mainly respiratory signs or respiratory system pathology are in the group "Respiratory Diseases", and arranged by alphabetical order within the groups, and finally grouped by DISEASE AGENT TYPE (viral, bacterial etc.) again organised alphabetically within each group.

For further information linking diseases to the system or area of the body to assist in diagnosis see also: 

• Physical Examination of Mammals
• Necropsy of Mammals

Note: Loxodonta cyclotis - Forest Elephant has generally been considered to be a subspecies of Loxodonta africana - African Elephant, therefore there is almost no disease literature pertaining specifically to the forest elephant. It should be assumed that all diseases detected in Loxodonta africana - African Elephant may also be found in Loxodonta cyclotis - Forest Elephant

Common Diseases & Reasons for Presentation

• Colic in Elephants

• Dystocia in Elephants (Geographic variability)

• Dental problems: (Geographic variability)

  • Bacterial Tusk Infection in Elephants

  • Molar Malocclusion in Elephants

  • Tusk Sulcus Infection in Elephants

  • Tusk Injury in Elephants

• Foot problems: (Geographic variability)

  • Bacterial Pododermatitis in Elephants

  • Cuticle Overgrowth in Elephants

  • Foot Wounds in Elephants

  • Heel Cracks in Elephants

  • Nail Abscess in Elephants

  • Nail Cracks in Elephants

  • Nail Overgrowth in Elephants

  • Overworn Sole in Elephants

  • Sole Abscess in Elephants

  • Sole Cracks in Elephants

  • Sole Overgrowth in Elephants

• Calcium-Vitamin D Metabolism Imbalance (with special reference to Hedgehogs and Elephants) (Geographic variability)

• Parasitic diseases: (Geographic variability)

  • Elephant Gastro-Intestinal Nematode Infection

  • Lice Infection in Elephants  

  • Stephanofilarial Dermatitis in Elephants  

• Salmonellosis (with special reference to Waterfowl, Hedgehogs and Elephants)

• Subcutaneous Abscess in Elephants

• Wounds in Elephants

Important Diseases

• Anthrax (with special reference to Waterfowl and Elephants)

• Calcium-Vitamin D Metabolism Imbalance (with special reference to Hedgehogs and Elephants)

• Colic in Elephants

• Degenerative Joint Disease in Elephants

• Dental problems: 

  • Bacterial Tusk Infection in Elephants

  • Molar Malocclusion in Elephants

  • Tusk Sulcus Infection in Elephants

  • Tusk Injury in Elephants

• Dystocia in Elephants

• Encephalomyocarditis (with special reference to Elephants)

• Foot-and-Mouth Disease
  • (Note: Details of the disease in elephants are given on the page Foot and Mouth Disease - Editorial Overview of Disease Characteristics for specified SPECIES-TAXA)

• Foot problems:

  • Bacterial Pododermatitis in Elephants

  • Cuticle Overgrowth in Elephants

  • Foot Wounds in Elephants

  • Heel Cracks in Elephants

  • Nail Abscess in Elephants

  • Nail Cracks in Elephants

  • Nail Overgrowth in Elephants

  • Overworn Sole in Elephants

  • Sole Abscess in Elephants

  • Sole Cracks in Elephants

  • Sole Overgrowth in Elephants

• Herpesvirus Infection in Elephants

• Mammalian Tuberculosis (with special reference to Badgers, Hedgehogs and Elephants)

• Pasteurella Infection in Elephants

• Poxvirus Infection in Elephants

• Rabies (with special reference to Waterfowl, Hedgehogs and Elephants)

• Renal Disease in Elephants

• Salmonellosis (with special reference to Waterfowl, Hedgehogs and Elephants)

• Subcutaneous Abscess in Elephants
• Tetanus (with special reference to Elephants)
• Wounds in Elephants

Common Diseases of Juveniles

• Clostridium perfringes Infection in Elephants

• Colibacillosis (with special reference to Waterfowl, Hedgehogs and Elephants)

• Herpesvirus Infection in Elephants

• Protein Malnutrition in Elephants

• Salmonellosis (with special reference to Waterfowl, Hedgehogs and Elephants)

Common Diseases of Neonates and Hand-Reared Elephants

• Bone Fractures in Elephants
• Calcium-Vitamin D Metabolism Imbalance (with special reference to Hedgehogs and Elephants)
• Colibacillosis (with special reference to Waterfowl, Hedgehogs and Elephants)
• Tetanus (with special reference to Elephants)
• Wounds in Elephants

Zoonoses

• Anthrax (with special reference to Waterfowl and Elephants)
• Poxvirus Infection in Elephants
• Mammalian Tuberculosis (with special reference to Badgers, Hedgehogs and Elephants)

Potential zoonosis:

• Cryptosporidiosis in Mammals (with special reference to Hedgehogs and Elephants)
• Encephalomyocarditis (with special reference to Elephants)
• Foot-and-Mouth Disease
  • (Note: Details of the disease in elephants are given on the page Foot and Mouth Disease - Editorial Overview of Disease Characteristics for specified SPECIES-TAXA)
• Leptospirosis (with notes on Hedgehogs and Elephants)
• Rabies (with special reference to Waterfowl, Hedgehogs and Elephants)
• Ringworm in Hedgehogs (with notes on Elephants)
• Salmonellosis (with special reference to Waterfowl, Hedgehogs and Elephants)
• Mycoplasma Infection (with special reference to Waterfowl, Hedgehogs and Elephants)
• Toxoplasmosis in Waterfowl (with notes on Hedgehogs and Elephants)
• Yersiniosis (with special reference to Waterfowl, Hedgehogs and notes on Elephants)

Diseases reported only from Experimental Infection, or as a Host with no Clinical Signs

• African Horse Sickness in Elephants

• Bluetongue in Elephants

• Cryptosporidiosis in Mammals (with special reference to Hedgehogs and Elephants)

• Lead Poisoning in Waterfowl (with a note on elephants)

• Toxoplasmosis in Waterfowl (with notes on Hedgehogs and Elephants)

• Yersiniosis (with special reference to Waterfowl, Hedgehogs and notes on Elephants)

Skin Diseases

• Biting/Blood-sucking and Nuisance Flies Affecting Elephants

• Burns and Smoke Inhalation (with special reference to Waterfowl, Hedgehogs and notes on Elephants)

• Dermatitis in Elephants

• Dermoid Cysts in Elephants

• Cuticle Overgrowth in Elephants

• Elephant Foot Fly Infection

• Epidermoid Cysts in Elephants

• Filariasis of Elephants

• Flea Infection in Mammals (with special reference to Hedgehogs and a note on Elephants)

• Foot-and-Mouth Disease
  • (Note: Details of the disease in elephants are given on the page Foot and Mouth Disease - Editorial Overview of Disease Characteristics for specified SPECIES-TAXA)

• Frostbite in Waterfowl (with notes on Elephants)

• Hemlock (Conium maculatum) and Thorn apple (Datura stramonium) Toxicity in Elephants

• Hippoboscids on Elephants

• Idiopathic Ventral Oedema in Elephants

• Ingrowing Nails in Elephants

• Iatrogenic Segmental Ear Gangrene in Elephants

• Herpesvirus Infection in Elephants

• Hemorrhagic Filariasis Dermatitis of Elephants

• Hippoboscids on Elephants

• Hyperkeratosis in Elephants

• Leech Infection in Elephants

• Lice Infection in Elephants

• Lymphangitis in Elephants

• Myiasis (with special reference to Waterfowl, Hedgehogs and notes on Elephants)

• Nail Abscess in Elephants

• Nail Cracks in Elephants

• Nail Overgrowth in Elephants

• Neoplasia in Elephants

• Old World Screw-worms in Elephants

• Overworn Sole in Elephants

• Papillomatosis (with special reference to Elephants)

• Pododermatitis in Elephants

• Poxvirus Infection in Elephants

• Ringworm in Hedgehogs (with notes on Elephants)

• Foot Wounds in Elephants

• Sole Abscess in Elephants

• Sole Cracks in Elephants

• Sole Overgrowth in Elephants

• Skin Myiasis in Elephants

• Skin Ulcers in Elephants

• Stephanofilarial Dermatitis in Elephants

• Subcutaneous Abscess in Elephants

• Tick Infection (with special reference to Hedgehogs)

• Zinc Deficiency in Waterfowl (with special reference to Elephants)

• Wounds in Elephants

• Xeroderma in Elephants

Respiratory Diseases

• Aspiration Pneumonia in Elephants

• Cardiac Glycoside Toxicity in Elephants

• Coryzalike Syndrome in Elephants

• Interstitial Pulmonary Fibrosis in Elephants

• Mammalian Tuberculosis (with special reference to Badgers, Hedgehogs and Elephants)

• Mycoplasma Infection (with special reference to Waterfowl, Hedgehogs and Elephants)

• Respiratory Nematode Infection in Elephants

Not primary respiratory pathogens but may cause respiratory pathology:

• Anthrax (with special reference to Waterfowl and Elephants)

• Pasteurella Infection in Elephants

• Herpesvirus Infection in Elephants

Musculo-Skeletal, Locomotor and Nervous Diseases

• Alcohol Poisoning in Hedgehogs (with notes on Elephants)

• Anticholinesterase Toxicity in Waterfowl (with notes on Hedgehogs and Elephants)

• Atropine Toxicity in Elephants

• Calcium-Vitamin D Metabolism Imbalance (with special reference to Hedgehogs and Elephants)

• Capture Myopathy (with special reference to Waterfowl and notes on Elephants)

• Cardiac Cardiac Glycoside Toxicity in Elephants

• Chloropromazine Toxicity in Elephants

• Clostridium septicum Infection in Elephants

• Cuticle Overgrowth in Elephants

• Degenerative Joint Disease in Elephants

• Encephalomyocarditis (with special reference to Elephants)

• Flaccid Trunk Paralysis in African Elephants Loxodonta africana

• Foot-and-Mouth Disease
  • (Note: Details of the disease in elephants are given on the page Foot and Mouth Disease - Editorial Overview of Disease Characteristics for specified SPECIES-TAXA)

• Foot Wounds in Elephants

• Heel Cracks in Elephants

• Hypocalcaemic Tetany in Elephants

• Joint Luxations in Elephants

• Levamisole-Tetramisole Toxicity with special reference to Waterfowl, Hedgehogs and Elephants

• Lysergic Acid Diethylamide Toxicity in Elephants

• Mycoplasma Infection (with special reference to Waterfowl, Hedgehogs and Elephants)

• Nail Abscess in Elephants

• Nail Cracks in Elephants

• Ingrowing Nails in Elephants

• Nail Overgrowth in Elephants

• Non-specific Trunk Paralysis in Elephants

• Overworn Sole in Elephants

• Pododermatitis in Elephants

• Rabies (with special reference to Waterfowl, Hedgehogs and Elephants)

• Ryegrass Toxicity in Elephants

• Sole Abscess in Elephants

• Sole Cracks in Elephants

• Sole Overgrowth in Elephants

• Sunstroke / Heatstroke in Waterfowl and Elephants)

• Suprascapular paralysis in Elephants

• Tetanus (with special reference to Elephants)

• Traumatic Musculoskeletal Swellings in Elephants

• Trunk Paralysis (Non-Specific) in Elephants

• Tutu (Coriaria arborea) Toxicity in Elephants

• Varagu (Paspalum serobiculatum) Toxicity in Elephants

• Vitamin E - Selenium Deficiency (with special reference to Waterfowl and Elephants)

Cardiac Diseases

• Arteriosclerosis in Elephants

• Cardiac Glycoside Toxicity in Elephants

• Schistosomiasis in Waterfowl and Elephants)

• Encephalomyocarditis (with special reference to Elephants)

• Filariasis of Elephants

• Trypanosomiasis in Elephants

Dental / Tusk Diseases

• Bacterial Tusk Infection in Elephants
• Molar Maldevelopment and Malocclusion in Elephants
• Tusk Development Problems in Elephants
• Tusk Injury in Elephants
• Tusk Sulcus Infection in Elephants

Digestive System / Gastro-Intestinal Diseases

• Bots in Elephants

• Choke in Elephants

• Clostridium difficile Enterocolitis in Elephants (Bacterial Disease Summary)

• Clostridium perfringens Infection in Elephants

• Colibacillosis

• Colic in Elephants

• Constipation/Intussusception in Elephants

• Diarrhoea in Elephants

• Elephant Gastro-Intestinal Nematode Infection

• Foreign Body Ingestion in Waterfowl (with notes on Elephants)

• Intestinal Fluke Infection in Elephants

• Levamisole-Tetramisole Toxicity with special reference to Waterfowl, Hedgehogs and Elephants

• Rhododendron Toxicity in Elephants

• Salmonellosis (with special reference to Waterfowl, Hedgehogs and Elephants)

• Schistosomiasis in Waterfowl and Elephants)

• Volvulus and Intussusception in Elephants

Hepatic Diseases

• Cholelithiasis in Elephants

• Hydatid cysts in Elephants

• Liver Fluke Infection in Elephants

• Liver Nematode Infection in Elephants

Urogenital / Reproductive Diseases

• Abortion in Elephants
• Acyclicity in Elephants
• Carbon Monoxide Toxicity in Elephants
• Cervical Cysts in Elephants
• Cervical Polyps in Elephants
• Cystitis in Elephants
• Dystocia in Elephants
• Endometrial Cystic Hyperplasia and Polyps in Elephants
• Lymphoid Follicular Vulvitis in Elephants
• Metritis in Elephants
• Neoplasia in Elephants
• Ovarian Cysts in Elephants
• Placentitis in Elephants
• Priapism in Elephants
• Prostatovesiculitis in Elephants
• Poxvirus Infection in Elephants
• Perineal Hernias in Elephants

• Pyelonephritis in Elephants

• Renal Disease in Elephants

• Retained Placenta in Elephants
• Stillbirth in Elephants
• Testicular Abnormalities in Elephants
• Urethritis in Elephants
• Urinary Calculi in Elephants
• Uterine Leiomyomas in Elephants
• Vaginal Cysts in Elephants
• Vaginal Prolapse in Elephants
• Vestibular-Vulval Lesions in Elephants

Eye / Ear / Temporal Gland Diseases

• Cataracts in Elephants

• Conjunctivitis in Elephants

• Iatrogenic Segmental Ear Gangrene in Elephants

• Keratitis and Corneal Ulceration in Elephants

• Otitis Externa in Hedgehogs and Elephants

• Ear Mites in Elephants

• Miscellaneous Eye Lesions in Elephants

• Frostbite in Waterfowl (with notes on Elephants)

• Temporal Gland Disorder in Elephants

Systemic Diseases

• Anthrax (with special reference to Waterfowl and Elephants)

• Colibacillosis (with special reference to Waterfowl, Hedgehogs and Elephants)

• Foot-and-Mouth Disease
  • (Note: Details of the disease in elephants are given on the page Foot and Mouth Disease - Editorial Overview of Disease Characteristics for specified SPECIES-TAXA)

• Iron Deficiency Anaemia in Elephants

• Herpesvirus Infection in Elephants

• Pasteurella Infection in Elephants

• Salmonellosis (with special reference to Waterfowl, Hedgehogs and Elephants)

• Salt Poisoning in Waterfowl and Elephants

• Sudden Death Syndrome in Elephants

• Trypanosomiasis in Elephants

• Varagu (Paspalum scrobiculatum) Toxicity in Elephants
• Zinc Phosphide Toxicity in Elephants

Viral Diseases

• African Horse Sickness in Elephants
• Bluetongue in Elephants
• Encephalomyocarditis (with special reference to Elephants)
• Foot-and-Mouth Disease
  • (Note: Details of the disease in elephants are given on the page Foot and Mouth Disease - Editorial Overview of Disease Characteristics for specified SPECIES-TAXA)
• Herpesvirus Infection in Elephants
• Papillomatosis in Elephants
• Poxvirus Infection in Elephants
• Rabies (with special reference to Waterfowl, Hedgehogs and Elephants)
• Rinderpest in Elephants
• West Nile Virus Infection
  • (Note: Details of WN virus in elephants are given on the page West Nile Virus - Definitive Mammal Host Species (Viral Reports)

Bacterial Diseases

• Anthrax (with special reference to Waterfowl and Elephants)
• Bacterial Tusk Infection in Elephants
• Clostridium difficile Enterocolitis in Elephants
• Clostridium perfringens Infection in Elephants
• Clostridium septicum Infection in Elephants
• Colibacillosis (with special reference to Waterfowl, Hedgehogs and Elephants)
• Cowdriosis in Elephants
• Leptospirosis (with notes on Hedgehogs and Elephants)
• Mammalian Tuberculosis (with special reference to Badgers, Hedgehogs and Elephants)
• Mammary Botryomycosis in Elephants
• Mycoplasma Infection (with special reference to Waterfowl, Hedgehogs and Elephants)
• Pasteurella Infection in Elephants
• Pyelonephritis in Elephants
• Salmonellosis (with special reference to Waterfowl, Hedgehogs and Elephants)
• Tetanus (with special reference to Elephants)
• Yersiniosis (with special reference to Waterfowl, Hedgehogs and notes on Elephants)

Fungal / Algal Diseases

• Candidiasis in Waterfowl (with notes on Elephants)
• Ringworm in Hedgehogs (with notes on Elephants)

Parasitic Diseases

• Babesia Infection (Piroplasmosis) in Elephants
• Biting/Blood-sucking and Nuisance Flies Affecting Elephants
• Bots (Gastric Myiasis) in Elephants
• Cestodes in Elephants
• Cryptosporidiosis in Mammals (with special reference to Hedgehogs and Elephants)
• Ear Mites in Elephants
• Elephant Foot Fly Infection
• Elephant Gastro-Intestinal Nematode Infection
• Filariasis of Elephants
• Flea Infection in Mammals (with special reference to Hedgehogs and a note on Elephants)
• Hemorrhagic Filariasis Dermatitis of Elephants
• Hippoboscids on Elephants
• Hydatid cysts in Elephants
• Intestinal Fluke Infection in Elephants
• Leech Infection in Elephants
• Lice Infection in Elephants
• Liver Fluke Infection in Elephants
• Liver Nematode Infection in Elephants
• Myiasis (with special reference to Waterfowl, Hedgehogs and notes on Elephants)
• Old World Screw-worms in Elephants
• Respiratory Nematode Infection in Elephants
• Schistosomiasis in Waterfowl and Elephants)
• Skin Warbles in Elephants
• Stephanofilarial Dermatitis in Elephants
• Tick Infection (with special reference to Hedgehogs and Elephants)
• Toxoplasmosis in Waterfowl (with notes on Hedgehogs and Elephants)
• Trypanosomiasis in Elephants

Toxic Diseases

• Alcohol Poisoning in Hedgehogs and Elephants)
• Anticholinesterase Toxicity in Waterfowl (with notes on Hedgehogs and Elephants)
• Aracea sp. Toxicity in Elephants
• Atropine Toxicity in Elephants
• Avian Botulism in Waterfowl (with notes on Hedgehogs and Elephants)
• Carbon Monoxide Toxicity in Elephants
• Cardiac Glycoside Toxicity in Elephants
• Chloropromazine Toxicity in Elephants
• Copper Toxicity in Waterfowl (with notes on elephants)
• Euphorbia Toxicity in Elephants
• Hemlock (Conium maculatum) and Thorn apple (Datura stramonium) Toxicity in Elephants
• Lead Poisoning in Waterfowl (with a note on Elephants)
• Levamisole-Tetramisole Toxicity (with special reference to Waterfowl, Hedgehogs and Elephants)
• Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) Toxicity in Elephants
• Rhododendron Toxicity in Elephants
• Ryegrass Toxicity in Elephants
• Salt Poisoning in Waterfowl and Elephants
• Snake Bite in Elephants
• Sodium Fluroacetate Toxicity in Elephants
• Tutu (Coriaria arborea) Toxicity in Elephants
• Varagu (Paspalum scrobiculatum) Toxicity in Elephants
• Zinc Phosphide Toxicity in Elephants

Micro-nutrient (Vitamin / Mineral) Diseases

• Calcium-Vitamin D Metabolism Imbalance (with special reference to Hedgehogs and Elephants)
• Hypocalcaemic Tetany in Elephants
• Iron Deficiency Anaemia in Elephants
• Protein Excess in Growing Elephants
• Protein Malnutrition in Elephants
• Scurvy in Elephants
• Vitamin E - Selenium Deficiency (with special reference to Waterfowl and Elephants)
• Zinc Deficiency (with special reference to Elephants)

Physical / Traumatic Diseases

• Bone Fractures in Elephants

• Burns and Smoke Inhalation (with special reference to Waterfowl, Hedgehogs and Elephants)

• Choke in Elephants

• Foot Wounds in Elephants

• Foreign Body Ingestion in Waterfowl and Elephants

• Frostbite in Waterfowl (with notes on Elephants)

• Joint Luxations in Elephants

• Overworn Sole in Elephants

• Sunstroke / Heatstroke in Waterfowl and Elephants)

• Traumatic Musculoskeletal Swellings in Elephants

• Trunk Wounds in Elephants

• Tusk Injury in Elephants

• Wounds in Elephants

Miscellaneous / Multifactorial / Metabolic Diseases

• Abortion in Elephants
• Acyclicity in Elephants
• Arteriosclerosis in Elephants
• Aspiration Pneumonia in Elephants
• Capture Myopathy (with special reference to Waterfowl and notes on Elephants)

• Cataracts in Elephants

• Cervical Cysts in Elephants

• Cervical Polyps in Elephants

• Cholelithiasis in Elephants
• Colic in Elephants
• Congenital Cardiac Abnormalities in Elephants

• Conjunctivitis in Elephants

• Constipation in Elephants
• Coryzalike Syndrome in Elephants
• Cuticle Overgrowth in Elephants
• Cystitis in Elephants
• Degenerative Joint Disease in Elephants
• Dermatitis in Elephants
• Dermoid Cysts in Elephants
• Diarrhoea in Elephants
• Dystocia in Elephants
• Endometrial Cystic Hyperplasia in Elephants
• Epidermoid Cysts in Elephant
• Flaccid Trunk Paralysis in African Elephants Loxodonta africana
• Heel Cracks in Elephants
• Iatrogenic Segmental Ear Gangrene in Elephants
• Idiopathic Ventral Oedema in Elephants
• Ingrowing Nails in Elephants
• Interstitial Pulmonary fibrosis in Elephants

• Keratitis and Corneal Ulceration in Elephants

• Lymphangitis in Elephants
• Lymphoid Follicular Vulvitis in Elephants
• Metritis in Elephants
• Miscellaneous Eye Lesions in Elephants
• Molar Maldevelopment and Malocclusion in Elephants
• Nail Infection and Abscess in Elephants
• Nail Cracks in Elephants
• Nail Overgrowth in Elephants
• Neoplasia in Elephants
• Odontoma in Elephants
• Otitis Externa in Hedgehogs and Elephants
• Ovarian Cysts in Elephants
• Placentitis in Elephants
• Paraovarian Cysts in Elephants
• Perineal Hernias in Elephants
• Pododermatitis in Elephants
• Priapism in Elephants
• Prostatovesiculitis in Elephants
• Renal Disease in Elephants
• Retained Placenta in Elephants
• Skin Ulcers in Elephants
• Sole Abscess in Elephants
• Sole Cracks in Elephants
• Sole Overgrowth in Elephants
• Stillbirth in Elephants
• Subcutaneous Abscess in Elephants
• Sudden Death Syndrome in Elephants
• Suprascapular paralysis in Elephants
• Temporal Gland Disorder in Elephants
• Trunk Paralysis (Non-Specific) in Elephants
• Tusk Development Problems in Elephants
• Tusk Sulcus Infection in Elephants
• Umbilical Hernia in Elephants
• Urethritis in Elephants
• Urinary Calculi in Elephants (Miscellaneous Disease Summary)
• Uterine Leiomyomas in Elephants (Miscellaneous Disease Summary)
• Vaginal Cysts in Elephants (Miscellaneous Disease Summary)
• Vaginal Prolapse in Elephants
• Vestibular-Vulval Lesions in Elephants (Miscellaneous Disease Summary)

• Volvulus and Intussusception in Elephants

• Xeroderma in Elephants