Re: [Alpacasite] BVD Testing

Pamela,
In addition to the good information you've received in other responses, let
me add that Ruthanne McCaslin DVM posted a week or so ago on this issue with
some very good information on testing. Search the archives for BVD and you
should find it.

The other thing to be aware of is there may still be camelid experienced vets
of the opinion that camelids don't get BVDV. This simply is not true even
though literature as recent as around 2002 stated this. There are differences of
opinion on how serious of an issue this is within the alpaca industry, but
that doesn't change the fact that it's here.

I think we'll see more and more farms implementing testing requirements
before alpacas are allowed onto their property. IMO this is a good thing and for
one would feel more comfortable sending dams to these breeders than to those
that didn't require testing.

Elden Harms
Token Creek Alpacas LLC
Sun Prairie WI

Looking for superior customer service? Lean on Token Creek Alpacas, you'll
be well supported.

In a message dated 12/5/05 10:10:02 AM Central Standard Time,
sprucealpacas@aol.com writes:

> Pamela
> For information, I would recommend starting with the Alpacas Magazine
> Summer
> 2005 &Winter 2006 issues. There have been confirmed cases of PI crias (I
> believe Cornell's lab has confirmed 7 this Fall). We identified 2 PI crias
> on
> our farm this year (through a series of 3 PCR tests and virus isolation
> test). The dams of both crias came to our farm 5 to 6 months pregnant
> (past the
> generally-accepted cutoff of when an in utero cria can be infected, so it
> looks like they were infected before they got here, plus none of the other
> 20+
> crias born on our farm are PI). One dam came from Maine and one from
> Colorado
> so it appears that this disease is throughout the country. (Personally I
> believe this disease has always been in the alpaca industry - we just often
>
> called it "failure to thrive" when we had a poor doing cria).
>
> To look at these crias now (they are 9 and 12 weeks old), you would have no
>
> clue that they were PI - healthy, active, robust. They are currently at a
> horse farm with their dams where they have no access to other ruminants.
> Ideally, these 2 will be kept alive (typically PI crias are put down
> immediately)
> and studied so we can learn more about this disease & alpacas
>
>
> Steve McCarthy
> Spruce Ridge Farm
> Old Chatham, NY
> _www.spruceridgefarm.com_ (http://www.spruceridgefarm.com)
>
>
> At 10:10 AM 12/5/2005, you wrote:
> >I'd like to learn more about BVD testing. It seems to be a more
> >frequent topic of conversation and this site is a great gathering of the
> >collective wisdom of our business.
> >
> >We've had several requests to conduct this test prior to transport
> >though I know of no cases in alpacas. We have an excellent camelid vet
> >but he is on a learning curve with this testing, too, and hasn't been
> >able to come up with a "standard" test.
> >
> >I'd be especially interested to hear if there is a preferred protocol
> >for testing. Also, have there been cases reported in alpacas and if so,
> >what is the pathology and symptoms. Are there protective measures we
> >should be taking if we're in a cattle raising state. What do you vets
> >out there think?
> >
> >Pamela Ray
> >Xanadu Farm Alpacas
> >Home of Champion Herdsires, Peruvian Presidio, Maple Brook Barnabus,
> >Rayo's Roso e Grigio, PLF P. Jubilant and Brutus' Firecracker.
>

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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