Re: [AlpacaTalk] Mycoplasma Haemolama or EPE
Hey Nancy,
When I tested a few years ago, the fee was over $80. That's great that it has come down to a much more reasonable price. Good news!
There is no doubt that alpacas can test negatively for BVDV and then have it a day later after "catching" it from another animal. The difference, however with a PI cria is that they spew the virus in huge quantities, making them even more contagious.
The measures to deal with BVDV were swift, very brave, and effective, but they were effective because they were enacted early in the course of the disease within our national herd, when there were very few animals with the disease. Trying to protect alpacas from MH through similar required testing for shows, is akin to closing the barn door after the alpaca has escaped. The disease is far too widespread for such measures to have any benefit to preventing or curtailing MH in our national herd.
Take Care Nancy,
Laurel
The Shouvlins
Bluebird Hills Farm
Springfield, Ohio
937-206-3936
www.bluebirdhills.
bluebirdhills@
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> Nancy Miller
> Crooked Pine Hollow Alpacas
> 76 Van Lane
> Winterville, Ga. 30683
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> -----Original Message-----
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From: Bluebird Hills Farm <bluebirdhills@
> To: AlpacaTalk@yahoogro
> Sent: Sat, Jun 12, 2010 8:34 am
> Subject: [AlpacaTalk] Mycoplasma Haemolama or EPE
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> 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?
> Good evening, Laurel.
> I know of no study except what we see in the improvement in
> health of our dams that have been treated; in that they lose
> less weight when nursing, their deliveries are easier, and they
> just seem to be all around healthier after treating. I was
> unable to test mine after treating, but a neighboring farm did
> and got negatives all around, I believe. My males who were
> treated that had skin issues; that red rough skin that some
> white (accoyo) get, improved significantly.
> treating with antibiotics cures, just knocks it back so that
> the animal may enjoy improved health.
> 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.
> The same is true with BVDV, they can test negative one day and be positive
> the next. Our testing charges were like $35 two years ago. Have they
> increased that much? UGA is now testing also.
> 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.
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> This is true Laurel. Hopefully some highly intelligent person can figure
> out how to handle this situation or develop a cure.
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> 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.
> bluebirdhills@
>
>>
>> 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...
>> 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
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>>
>> -----Original Message-----
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From: Laura A. Roberts <laura0554@hughes.
>> To: AlpacaTalk@yahoogro
>> Sent: Fri, Jun 11, 2010 2:12 pm
>> Subject: RE: [AlpacaTalk] EPE
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>> 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.
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>> 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
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From: AlpacaTalk@yahoogro
>> Behalf Of jelizabethfarms1@
>> Sent: Friday, June 11, 2010 11:38 AM
>> To: AlpacaTalk@yahoogro
>> Subject: [AlpacaTalk] EPE
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>> So you didn't treat her with Biomycin? You call her your EPE girl; did
>> you have her tested?
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>> 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
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posted by Chaddo at 10:14 AM
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