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Saturday, June 12, 2010

Re: [AlpacaTalk] Mycoplasma Haemolama or EPE

 

Susan,
       One of the problems is that most vets do not believe in treating until an animal gets into trouble, at which time it is frequently too late.  It is extremely hard to get cooperation.  I have a rescue girl now that I cannot get weight on.  The rest are "fat and sassy"  She displays a pale FAMACHA score as well.  The best I can presently get from my vet is a floating of the girl's teeth and a round of Lixitinic. (an iron preparation)  If she does not come around in one month with the Lixitinic, I'm going to put my battle gear on and go talk to her again about treating for MH.

Nancy Miller
Crooked Pine Hollow Alpacas
76 Van Lane
Winterville, Ga. 30683


-----Original Message-----
From: Susan Forman <susan@deweymorningalpacas.com>
To: AlpacaTalk@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sat, Jun 12, 2010 10:25 am
Subject: Re: [AlpacaTalk] Mycoplasma Haemolama or EPE

 
Laurel:
To further expound on what you've said, the other problem is a firm determination of just HOW MH is transmitted from one animal to another. It is a blood borne parasitic bacteria and is NOT transmitted via the air or feed bowls or a shared hay source. In other species, (the mycoplasmas are a big group of bacteria and most species - if not all - have at least one species of mycoplasma that will cause infection) insects, specifically mosquitoes,  are known to be the vector.  Dr. Pellegrini from U of Georgia recommends using a clean needle and syringe for every injection on you farm as well as disinfecting shearing blades. In other words, anything that would cause even a very small exchange of blood between animals COULD spread the disease. Again, they still are not sure just what is responsible for the vast majority of cases. There is also some suspicion that it can be transmitted from dam to offspring, either in utero or during birthing. There was an interesting case a few years ago of a 4 day old llama that died with a high level of MH in it's blood with the expected accompaniment of anemia.
 
Overall, there is still a great deal to learn about this disease, especially in terms of  treatment. I may be mistaken, but I don't think they have yet completely eliminated the bacteria in all animals that are treated. Most continue to show a small number. That isn't to say that treatment isn't advised, but I think it does say that treatment should only be done under the supervision of a vet.
 
As for 80% of our herd being infected, I guess I would disagree, but who am I? Maybe on a regional basis, but over the entire NA herd, I guess I'm not convinced. I DO think there is more of it than most of us realize or ever have to actually deal with. I know that if I had an animal that continually wasn't doing well, continually showed a high number of gut parasites, etc., I'd be checking for MH and working with my vet. But the evidence so far indicates that the vast majority of animals who are infected remain sub-clinical and never have a problem with it.
 
As for shows, I'm not sure what would be accomplished in testing other than a big vet/lab bill. Perhaps it would be more practical - and economic - if we all just accepted that there are things in the world that can create health issues for alpacas...same as for people. We can't ever totally eradicate all the bad things, so we just need to learn to live with them.  Again, if it is transmitted via blood, what are the chances that a show would spread the disease? Kind of like going to a mall where half the people have AIDS -- my chances of getting AIDS from sharing space with them is slim to none...more none than slim.
 
There was an article in Alpacas Magazine in the fall issue (I think). It's also at the Alpaca Research Foundation web site if anybody it interested.
 
Susan
 
Susan Forman
Dewey Morning Alpacas
Washington Court House, OH 43160
740-636-1899
http://www.alpacanation.com/deweymorning.asp
 
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Saturday, June 12, 2010 8:34 AM
Subject: [AlpacaTalk] Mycoplasma Haemolama or EPE

 
Nancy,
Until there is a study that shows that a round of antibiotic treatment is effective, I have little faith in treating with antibiotics. I do think it might knock the infection back, but does it eliminate it? By the way, is there any study out there regarding treatment efficacy?

With BVDV, the effort was to identify the persistently infected alpaca and keep it from moving around the country. It helped as well to drastically reduce the incidence of the disease itself, but it will never be eliminated. The test was relatively inexpensive especially with pooling samples. With Mycoplasma haemolama an alpaca can test negative one day for MH and be positive the next due to reinfection. Tests for Mycoplasma haemolama cost $80 and that doesn't include the vet charge for draw, nor the shipping of the blood to Oregon.

With the estimates I hear that 80% of the national herd is infected, the expense of testing will keep folks only testing the alpacas going to show or opting out of showing altogether. Regardless, this will leave the rest of the herd potential carriers, to reinfect the animal that just tested negative, or was just treated. 

So my vote is firmly against testing as a requirement for shows. Sorry to disagree,

Laurel
 
The Shouvlins
Bluebird Hills Farm
Springfield, Ohio
937-206-3936
www.bluebirdhills.com
bluebirdhills@voyager.net

>
> Dear Laura,
> If she was really treated for MH, her blood levels should be low and
> the likelyhood of showing its ugly head low. May I ask why did you
> give her Biomycin????
>
> It is hard to make a sale these days. I am sorry the sellers needed the
> sale so badly that they were afraid of this disclosure up front. The
> truth is that a very HIGH percentage of ALL of our alpacas have this
> disease. We have to overcome the stigma of disclosure so that these
> animals are protected. At least these people told you in the
> paperwork......alot of people are not telling it at all. (Sometimes they
> just do not know, nor have any reason to suspect.) Dr. Lisa Williamson
> thinks that this disease came in importation. She and alot of vets think
> that we should not treat a positive animal.....many of us think you
> should. We believe it improves the quality of life of dams like yours.
> It also lowers the chance of infection to other animals. A few farms
> have set their standards to include MH testing with breeding practices and
> presence on their farms. I think this is good. Label these animals and
> treat them, then transport them.
>
> I really believe AOBA should make MH testing right up there with BVDV. (
> You hear me, board members????) Polio was not "wiped out", so to speak,
> until everyone was vaccinated. MH won't be either.
>
> I'll bet money your dam and her cria will just get stronger every day and
> you won't regret buying her one bit!!!
> Take care.
>
> Nancy Miller
> Crooked Pine Hollow Alpacas
> 76 Van Lane
> Winterville, Ga. 30683
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
>
From: Laura A. Roberts <laura0554@hughes.net>
> To: AlpacaTalk@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Fri, Jun 11, 2010 2:12 pm
> Subject: RE: [AlpacaTalk] EPE
>
>
>
>
>
>
> I’m sorry-I thought you had heard her story. I bought her
> sight unseen and she was shipped from CA to VA. Yes, she was
> tested and treated for EPE prior to leaving CA. We also gave
> her Biomycin when she arrived and had her blood drawn. She
> definitely has EPE. We just didn’t know until she arrived
> with all her paperwork.
>
> She is doing well, now. We are very pleased to have been able
> to build her weight back up, especially since it was winter
> and she was still nursing. I didn’t want to wean the cria
> immediately because I was concerned about their stress level
> and relocation. We had a coat made for her so she wouldn’t
> waste energy trying to keep warm. Her fiber was very sparse.
>
> Anyway, 7 months and 30 pounds later………we are pleased
> with her. Her energy level is great and she looks and acts
> very healthy. I know we have to keep a close eye on her and
> that the EPE can spread it’s ugly head if she gets run down
> or sick.
>
>
> Laura Roberts
> R Half Pint Farm
> Spotsylvania, VA
>
>
>
>
From: AlpacaTalk@yahoogroups.com [mailto:AlpacaTalk@yahoogroups.com] On
> Behalf Of jelizabethfarms1@bellsouth.net
> Sent: Friday, June 11, 2010 11:38 AM
> To: AlpacaTalk@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [AlpacaTalk] EPE
>
>
>
>
>
>
> So you didn't treat her with Biomycin? You call her your EPE girl; did
> you have her tested?
>
> My matriarch has always had a hard time keeping her weight up. Well I
> am not sure that is an accurate statement. She carries a large rounded
> belly low......she always always always looks preg, and the right side
> is always larger than the left so she has fooled me more than once;
> these days until I see legs coming out her behind I won't believe she is
> preg! But her hips and along the top of spine area are just skin and
> bone.
> So I am unsure as to whether to suspect EPE or not. I am leaning in
> that direction, but just hate to inject anything that I don't absolutely
> have to.
> She gets plenty to eat - all she will eat.....with no competition as
> they are all fed separately - so that is not the problem.
> Janice
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
Susan Forman
Dewey Morning Alpacas
Washington Court House, OH 43160
740-636-1899
http://www.alpacanation.com/deweymorning.asp

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