An Overview of Camelids in the United States Patrick Long DVM Camelid Healthcare Services Corvallis Oregon
An Overview of Camelids in
the United States
Patrick Long DVM
Camelid Healthcare Services
Corvallis Oregon
Camelids in US
• My perceptions of the industry as a practicing veterinarian working with camelids since 1982. I have worked closely with the owners association for the past several years and participated in several imports to the US and a recent export to Japan.
Camelids
• Ask questions if I speak to quickly or
something is not clear.
• Feel free to cut me off as needed!
Goals
• Introduction to Camelid Evolution
• Overview of Camelids in the US
• Diseases/conditions of concern
to US producers
Origins
• Origins in North America 11-9 million years
ago.
• 3 million years ago, migration occurred
across the Siberian land bridge—camels
• Migration south across the Panama
Isthmus resulted in South American
camelids.
Spanish Conquest Effects
• South American Camelids (SAC)
domesticated approximately 6,000 years
ago
• Widespread thru all of South America
• Pre Inca cultures started domestication
process but perfected by the Inca empire
• Spanish conquest of South America
decimated the SAC and native people
The Camelidae Family
Camelus dromedarius Lama glamaVicugna pacos
Camelus bactrianus Lama guanacoeVicugna vicugna
Camelids in US
• Alpaca numbers— 300,000
• Llama numbers--- apx. 125,000
• Not all llamas and alpacas are
registered—so this is a bit of an educated
guess.
• 94 million cattle
• 5.32 million sheep
• 2.62 million goats
Bottlenecks
• Spanish conquest in 1532 resulted in 90%
loss of all camelids in South America.
• Native people were decimated and much
of the knowledge of raising camelids was
loss.
• Camelids were forced into the highlands
where sheep did not do well.
South American numbers
• Approximately 6.5 million llamas and
alpacas in South America
• Reported that 85 % are owned by small
farms with flocks of 30-300
• Large cooperatives can have over 40,000
alpacas located on several farms
Southern Peru
Congenital Defects
• SAC known for high percentage of
congenital defects.
• Many are observed at birth:
choanal atresia
atresia ani
heart defects
Some not obvious till older:
reproductive anomalies
Cria Carepage81
Camelids in US
• Most farms in the US are single species farms. Most alpaca farms have no other livestock species—thus limiting spread of certain diseases. Many llama farms are more hobby farms—multiple species.
• Farm sanctuaries exist with multiple species at times.
• Show circuit is large with alpacas—regional and national shows may have over 1500 animals present. Great potential for horizontal transmission.
Concerns of US producers
• Following list (in no particular order) are
concerns facing US producers
Parasites
• Internal---Nematodes, Trematodes,
coccidia
• External
• Mites--- Chorioptic, Psorotic, Demodex
Camelid Parasites
• Many sources of general information on
parasites are available. While not specific to
alpacas or llamas, a very useful site is
(sheepandgoat.com). Another good website
is wormx.info (American consortium for small
ruminant parasite control)
• Parasites are common in large animals, it is
probably not realistic to expect that we will
eliminate, but we should control them with
medications and management.
Resistant GIN
• Early studies indicate there are resistant
Gastrointestinal nematode parasites
• Probably linked to P. tenuis control
strategies and overuse and misuse of
deworming products.
Parasite control
• Strategic deworming
• Strategies:
Do not feed hay on ground
Keep feces cleaned off ground
Do not overstock pastures
Rotational grazing
Deworm at appropriate time of year
Parasite Control
• Where do I start?
• Fecal Samples 10 animals or 10% of
herd, which ever is more.
• Fecal Sample 10-14 days post de-
worming to determine potential resistance.
• Ask what type of fecal test is being done.
float vs. McMasters vs. sugar floatation
Management must be discussed!
Parasites
• Haemonchus contortus is a major concern
for camelid owners.
• Resistance to most classes of
anthelmentics has been demonstrated on
some farms.
• Treatment with the ivermectin class for
prevention of P. tenuis is one contributing
cause.
Discussion points
• Wormx.info and sheepandgoat.com
• If you have a parasite problem on your
farm you cannot de-worm you way out
• You must change some management to
prevent re-infestation
• Healthy animals are more resistant to
parasitism
Coccidiosis
• Small coccidia---common
• Large coccidia-E mac.---emerging problem
due to increased pathogenicity and long
pre-patent period.
• Current research includes development of
an Elisa and PCR tests for early detection
of E. mac.
Coccidia of
camelids
Giardia and Cryptosporidum
• Both organisms isolated from animals with
diarrhea.
• Cryptosporidium---recent report links
cases in alpacas and cases in farm
workers and veterinary students
• Giardia—reported as cause of neonatal
diarrhea
TB
• M. bovis isolated in England and Ireland
• M. microti isolated in Switzerland
• Appears to connected to cattle and
badgers in England and Ireland
• New serologic tests are now available
• Intradermal test not effective in
Switzerland for M. microtii or in Ireland for
M. bovis.
Bluetounge
• Sporadic cases reported in US
• BTV8 has been a concern in Europe, with
fatal case/cases reported.
• Vaccine trials have been completed in
alpacas in England (Bovilis BTV8-Intervet)
and has been shown to produce
antibodies after 2 doses of the vaccines.
EEE
• Previous reports from East Coast several
years ago
• Vaccine study has been done—no
adverse events and antibody response
demonstrated, but no challenge studies
have been done.
West Nile Virus
• Recent history—few reported cases in
camelids.
• Several cases reported in early 2000’s
• Several studies have been done—vaccine
needs to be used differently than
recommendations for horses. Most
animals will develop antibody response.
• Not widely used in industry
Johnes disease
Incidence/ Concern?
Several reported cases in Australia
Coronavirus
• Common cause of diarrhea in neonates and
post show animals
• May be responsible for “snots” or upper
respiratory disease seen a few years ago after
shows.
• MERS—Middle East Respiratory Disease can
affect llamas—experimentally but no naturally
occurring cases reported
Corona Virus
• Completed Research:
• UC Davis: Investigation of a Novel
Respiratory Coronavirus in Alpacas:
Diagnostic Test Development and Initial
Prevalence Assessment—Beate Crossley
• Initial Study by Dr. Crossley—
Characterization and Id of Novel
Coronavirus.
BVDV
• Many cases of PI crias reported
• Most cases are one serotype
• Appears to be horizontal spread
• Active surveillance by owners and Breed group
• Owners are becoming less vigilant, so may
become a larger issue
• Low incidence/high impact problem for Owners
BVDV Research
• Sequencing BVDV strains—Dr. John
Neill—Ames Iowa, National Animal
Disease Center
• Experimental Exposure of naïve Alpacas
to BVDV virues 1a,1b and 2—Jason
Johnson, Auburn University
Prion Disease
• Prion Disease was recently described in a
Camel in Algeria
• To my knowledge, no prion diseases have
been described in llamas and alpacas
Equine Rhinopneumonitis
• Camelids are susceptible
• Not aware of recent cases
• Current situation in horses could pose a
risk for camelids.
Mycoplasma haemolamae
• Formally called Eperythrozoonosis
• Incidence reports of apx 20% in
Switzerland, US and South America
• Probably a 2ndary concurrent problem
• Anemia can be striking
• PCR is best way to diagnosis
• Current research funded by MAF and
Alpaca Research Foundation
Strep equi sp Zooepidemicus
• Known as “alpaca fever”
• Sporadic reports and one “herd outbreak”
• Fever, depression, anorexia
• Systemic infection can involve lungs, and
serosal surfaces of thoracic and
abdominal cavities.
Miscellaneous
• Brucellosis
• FMD
• Chorioptes Mites
• MCF
• Tick Borne diseases—Alpacas could be a
reservoir but are not checked
extensively—no recognized problems at
this point