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