[Alpacasite] Re: Anyone giving BVD vaccine?

Dear Neil,

We recently attended 2 separate neo-natal clinics, where the subject of BVD naturally came up at both clinics.

The first clinic with Dr. LaRue Johnson and Dr. Chris Camaan,BVD was brought up as a question, LaRue Johnson literally jumped off his chair and said vehemently "BIO-SECURITY" and while there was alot of information provided on the subject, he was really trying to emphasize the prevention of any disease coming into a farm, including shows, outside breedings etc. It was also our impression that BVD is a disease that is known in the text book sense for cattle, much is unkown about it in alpacas with respect to vaccinations.

The second clinic we attended with Dr. Pat Long , he had concurred that there is little known about vaccines, considering the basic fundamental that not all farms will even report any BVD findings to ARF (Alpaca Research Foundation). If memory serves me, I believe he said that only 6 reported cases across the country were in the current database. Dr. Long did also say that vaccinating is not a good idea at this juncture due to the lack of data and information being released by breeders, and it could possibly skew the information that does get accuarately documented.

In summary, from what we were able to ascertain is: Be prudent with your bio-security, and both well respected camelid vets did not appear to be too committing to any solid theories on the future of BVD for the simple fact that the information is simply not available. The only way the alpaca industry is going to get a handle on this is with farms reporting their findings and information.

My concern is that farms that have tested positive are not sharing the information because of belief that it will "stigmatize" their farm. It is not the fault of a farm that this disease exists, however, shame on the breeder's that don't report their findings so we can develop the necessary meds and vaccines that CAN be relied upon in the future.

Natalie Mormile

Brat-Paca-Farm,LLC

--- In Alpacasite@yahoogroups.com, "mpcpneilp" <mpcpneilp@a...> wrote:
>
> Steve,
>
> Thanks for the insight. I should have said, "no shows recently, only
> males shown in the last year and a half, no outside breedings with
> cria by side, and no pregnant females bought in from other farms."
>
> I can certainly have alpacas previously exposed to BVD on the farm,
> but they would be immune and not a source of future infection. At
> least that is my current understanding.
>
> While I've got you, given that you are now the resident alpacasite
> expert on this disease perhaps I can draw upon your knowledge for
> alpacasite? Here are some questions;
>
> 1)How good is the test(s) for BVD?
>
> 2)The vaccine available now (like every other vaccine;-) is bovine.
> Does it work well in alpacas? How long is it effective? How sure are
> we of this?
>
> 3)Thoughts vary on how important a pathogen BVD is in alpacas. Given
> what you have been through, in your opinion what reasonable
> precautions should the prudent breeder take as of 12/05? In theory,
> any alpaca bred and raised on another farm then bought could be a
> potential PI. Should we now test 10 year olds? And if they are
> positive to the test, can we tell if they are persistently infected
> of immune?
>
> Thanks in advance for your further insight. Carol Pfister, if you are
> out there feel free to jump in.
>
> Neil
> A Paca Fun Farm
> Mt. Airy, Maryland
> Sugarloaf Mountain, Maryland
> www.apacafunfarm.com
>
> --- In Alpacasite@yahoogroups.com, sprucealpacas@a... wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> > Neil
> > Unless you have tested your herd, I don't think you can make the
> statement
> > "No BVD here." It is a fallacy that all PI crias are sick. A PI
> cria born on
> > our farm in September is almost 3 months old now (no longer on my
> farm but
> > at a horse farm where it can be studied) and she is the "picture
> of health".
> > Never had diarrhea or a temperature, never lethargic; races around
> the field
> > like a race horse. It is only because another cria was sick that
> we tested
> > the herd for BVD and identified this girl as PI. PI cows can live
> and
> > reproduce for many years.
> >
> > You refer to shows as your exposure risk. There are many ways to
> be
> > exposed. Probably the best is outside breedings, especially when a
> cria is at side.
> >
> > As far as vaccines, Dr Evans has been vaccinating herds for
> years. See page
> > 120 of his new book. He first identified BVD in 1988
> >
> >
> >
> > Steve McCarthy
> > Spruce Ridge Farm
> > Old Chatham, NY
> > www.spruceridgefarm.com
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > In a message dated 12/9/2005 10:14:24 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
> > mpcpneilp@a... writes:
> >
> > Since we are on the topic of vaccines, here's a question for the
> list.
> >
> > I've been asked off-list twice in the last week if I am giving BVD
> > vaccine. I'm not, at least not yet.
> >
> > Fortunately, since I'm still in the process of building facilities
> at
> > our new farm I haven't been to a show since MAPACA. No BVD here! I
> > don't have to worry about BVD again until March, when I hope to
> have
> > the new farm finished, be moved in, and have the time to show
> again.
> >
> > So, the question is, who out there is using BVD vaccine. What is
> your
> > experience? Does the vaccine provide any protection in alpacas?
> Any
> > adverse reactions to the vaccine?
> >
> > Neil
> > A Paca Fun Farm
> > Mt. Airy, Maryland
> > Sugarloaf Mountain, Maryland
> > www.apacafunfarm.com
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
>

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