Hi all,
I've been dealing with this issue and wanted to let others know, as the
disease is sweeping the country. There have been a number of cases when
there has been no apparent contact of the herd with outside llamas or
alpacas (like shows or hikes).
Most of my herd has been affected with at least runny noses, and my cria
had creamy yellow nasal discharge. Several of the older llamas have had
breathing difficulties, and one is currently at UT vet school with
serious pneumonia. Her prognosis is guarded, and I'm very worried about
her.
If you are seeing symptoms, the first line of treatment is antibiotic
LA200 (available from co-ops) injected SQ at a dose rate of 2.3 cc/100
lb bodyweight. Repeat 2 more times every 48 hours. My vet recommended
dosing the animal at the first sign of a runny nose. You can also use
Nuflor at 6 cc/100 lb body weight, but it is significantly more
expensive. If your animal is having very labored breathing, take it to
the vet, as these drugs are not as effective in a full-blown pneumonia
situation.
--Susan G
Infectious Camelid Respiratory Disease Affecting Major Areas of US Herd
Between the months of June and October 2007, an unknown number of
respiratory cases have been seen across the US varying in severity from
sub-clinical, mild to severe respiratory disease with fatalities. This
recent occurrence of infectious respiratory disease has gone through
most of the large camelid population areas in the US leaving many
animals affected, some with fatal results.
In The Ohio State University Veterinary Hospital, the initial
information we received came from telephone calls and referrals of some
animals (mostly alpacas) with mild respiratory signs including nasal
discharge, coughing and fever. We examined several animals here and
submitted samples for serologic testing and virus isolation through our
Ohio Veterinary Diagnostic laboratory and the Veterinary Diagnostic
laboratory at Oregon State University. To date, most of the samples
submitted for serology have come back negative. I have spoken to
individuals from the West and East coasts and have read on the various
listservs (Veterinary) that their testing has resulted in similar
findings. In some of our cases we have had serologic positives for
Adenovirus, (re****ted in association with pneumonia in llamas); however,
this virus is re****tedly a common finding in camelids. Others I have
spoken to suggest Parainfluenza virus may be involved and the
possibility that a Coronavirus may be involved is also being investigated.
The demographics of the animals we have examined include: Older females
(>10 years of age) who are in late pregnancy or early after giving birth
(<3 weeks), who present after abortion, or after normal gestation length
and delivery of healthy crias. Several llamas with high respiratory
rates, fever, abnormal lung sounds and pleural effusion survived after
extensive treatment and sup****tive care. Several older Alpaca females
(>10 years of age) with healthy crias (~ 2 weeks of age) presented in
respiratory distress, pleural effusion and severe lung consolidation.
These animals died en route or were euthanized due to severe pneumonia.
Their crias survived without evidence of respiratory disease.
Based upon our local findings, and those re****ts provided to me from
other locations in the US, this viral respiratory disease can have
serious consequences with bacterial secondary infections. The viral
agent is as yet unknown. Many groups are actively conducting tests and
accepting samples for future testing once the causative agent has been
identified.
Recommendations for Those Owners Experiencing This Problem:
1. Enforce strict bio-security protocols to prevent animals from
bringing this agent to your farm. I would consider animals that return
from shows/breeding farms as potential vectors even if not clinically
affected. House these animals separately from the breeding stock for a
minimum of 5-10 days before re-introducing them to the herd. As the
identity of this agent has not been determined, longer isolation periods
may be prudent.
2. The quarantine facility should be separated in all aspects from the
remainder of the farm. Separate personnel should tend to these animals
during their quarantine period. Animal handlers, grooms, etc should be
provided with disposable outer wear (including caps and shoe covers) to
prevent the spread of infectious agents to other animals through
contamination of clothing, footwear, etc. Clean equipment, bedding,
feed, and all materials to be used in contact with these animals should
be kept separate from the rest of the herd.
3. Maintain strict bio-security of bred females, especially older
animals. In our experience these animals are the most severely
affected. Limit the stress of handling of pregnant females by
evaluation of respiratory rates in pasture (from a distance) and
physically restraining only those with an unexpected rise or work in
breathing.
4. Have your Veterinarian examine all animals with clinical signs at an
early stage. If deemed necessary due to fever, respiratory rates or
other concerns, treatment should be initiated. If your Veterinarian
needs information on or about this respiratory condition, please feel
free to pass this information on to them. Contact information for
experienced Veterinary personnel is posted at the bottom of this
statement.
5. Obtain blood samples (for serum) from those animals demonstrating
the common clinical signs (nasal/ocular discharge, coughing, fever, open
mouth breathing) and submit these samples to a veterinary diagnostic
laboratory for respiratory serology. Although we may not get
information back on what is causing this problem soon, those individuals
investigating this respiratory condition indicate that future testing of
frozen (banked) serum, especially paired serum samples taken 2-4 weeks
apart may be useful in gaining an understanding of this problem.
6. Treatment of those animals with more severe symptoms (fever,
pneumonia), should include broad spectrum antibiotics which are
effective against gram negative and gram positive bacteria. Those
animals we have examined have had a number of op****tunistic bacteria
isolated from their lungs.
Contact Information for Respiratory Condition of Camelids
Barbara Baker or Nancy Medland, Co-Associate Directors, ICI
614-403-1016 or associatedirector@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Jeff Lakritz, Director, ICI 614-292-6661, ext.1
Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospitals: ask to speak with any
veterinarian working with camelids
The University of California, Davis
Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital
Phone 530-752-0290
California Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory
Phone : 530-752-8700
Colorado State University
Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital
Phone : 970-221-4535
Colorado Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory
Phone: 970-297-1281
Oregon State University
Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital
Phone: 541-737-2859
Oregon Veterinary Medical Diagnostic laboratory
Phone: 541-737-3261
Wa****ngton State University Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital
Phone 509-335-0711
Wa****ngton Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory
Phone 509-335-9696
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