[AlpacaTalk] ICI Email about Virus IMPORTANT
Hi Everyone,
I have received a very interesting email from ICI. It appears that they
are not sending out individual letters or warnings, but are sending them
out to the organizations.
organizations have passed this email along. I know that AOBA spent big
bucks to help set it up. It would be outrages for them not to have
gotten a similar email.
Needless to say this is why we are encouraging membership at
www.alpacawatch.
long for this? And we, alpaca owners, still have not received a
warning.
I do have more reports of new deaths. When I am done with today's
reports I will post them on Alpaca Watch. I have a couple requests:
Please keep the reports coming, and
Please join Alpaca Watch.
We already have 477 members from the United States, Canada and
Australia!
Janet Morrow
www.alpacawatch.
Here is the letter:
From: Lama Distribution [mailto:distribution@
Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2007 12:52 PM
To: jpatrick@airmail.
Subject: Respiratory Virus in Camelids
Attention Llama Owners:
"Barb Baker of ICI contacted the ILR office and asked that we forward
this document, written by Dr. Jeff Lakritz, Director of the
International Camelid Institute (ICI), to ILR llama owners. Any
questions should be directed to the ICI at the numbers provided in the
email. The ILR office personnel have no additional information about
this situation."
Although this problem has occurred more frequently in alpacas than in
llamas, we thought you should be aware of the precautions that are being
recommended.
In addition to the contacts listed in the document, you might also check
the Alpaca Research Foundation website (www.alpaceresearch
<http://www.alpacere
on this topic on the site today, they will post any information they
receive soon after receiving it.
Thanks,
ILR Board
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, (reported in association with pneumonia in llamas); however,
this virus is reportedly a common finding in camelids. The possibilities
of other agents are 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 supportive 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 reports provided to me from
other locations in the US, this possible viral respiratory disease can
have serious consequences with secondary bacterial infections. The
agent(s) is/are as yet unknown. Many groups are actively conducting
tests and accepting samples for future testing once the causative agent
has been identified. This is likely a multifactorial condition.
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 10-14 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. Handle new
animals after other animals on the farm.
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 opportunistic bacteria
isolated from their lungs.
Dr. Jeff Lakritz, Director, ICI
614-292-6661, ext.1
Contact Information for Respiratory Condition of Camelids
Barbara Baker or Nancy Medland, Co-Associate Directors, ICI
614-403-1016 or associatedirector@
Dr. 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
Washington State University Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital
Phone 509-335-0711
Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory
Phone 509-335-9696
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posted by Chaddo at 3:27 PM
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