6.2.1: Minor farm species - Camelids

Question 1

Average gestation length of camelids and time to next breeding

Answer 1

• 343 days; can range from 330-370 days
• Usually bred again 3 weeks after parturition

Question 2

Where are gut sounds typically heard in camelids?
What is the normal frequency?

Answer 2

• GI sounds over the left paralumbar fossa
• 3-5 C1 contractions oer minute

Question 3

True/false: camelids are susceptible to mostly the same GI parasites as sheep, but are more resistant to them as a whole.

Answer 3

False
* Camelids and sheep = generally susceptible to the same GI parasites
* Camelids are less adapted to high levels of GI parasites; innate immunity to parasitism lower than sheep
* Camelids may suffer clinical disease at lower levels of infestation than sheep

Question 4

Where camelids are used as guard animals for sheep, what should you be mindful of? What steps should you take?

Answer 4

• Increased susceptible of camelids to GI parasites
• When co-grazed with sheep, are more likely to succumb to clinical disease due to increased parasite exposure
• Should perform regulary faecal screening to ensure optimum health

Question 5

True/false: camelids with severe GI parasite infestations often show diarrhoea as a clinical sign.

Answer 5

False
* Camelids = adapted to arid climate
* They are extremely adept at resorbing water from their spiral colons so can have normal pelleted faeces even with heavy parasite burdens

Question 6

Most passive float tests are too insensitive for camelids; what test should you use instead?

Answer 6

• Modified Stoll’s test
• Sensitive down to 5 epg (eggs per gram of faeces)
• Pooling of samples from several camelids as this results in a dilution effect meaning parasite problems in the individual fail to be detected

Question 7

Examples of gastrointestinal parasites in camelids

Answer 7

• Strongyles: Haemonchus, Ostertagia, Nematodirus
• Whipworms: Trichuris

Question 8

Heavy parasite burdens of which strongyle can cause anaemia in camelids?

Answer 8

Haemonchus spp

Question 9

What PCV might you expect a camelid to have when it is diagnosed with anaemia and why is this?

Answer 9

• Often PCV of <6% by the time they are diagnosed
• This is because their adaptation to living at altitude results in ability to tolerate the onset of anaemia extremely well

Question 10

Treatment for Haemonchosis in camelids

Answer 10

• Blood transfusion (often a single unit required) to treat anaemia
• 20 mg/kg oral fenbendazole daily for 5 days
• OR 8 mg/kg oral levamisole once
• OR 0.4 mg/kg SC ivermectin where susceptible

Question 11

Which species of coccidia affect camelids?

Answer 11

• Eimeria punoenis
• Eimeria alpaca
• Eimeria lamae
• Eimeria macusaniensis

Question 12

What blood parasite can cause anaemia in camelids globally? Which individuals are likely to be affected?

Answer 12

Mycoplasma haemolamae
* Most healthy adult llamas and alpacas will mount an immune response and clear it effectively
* May be found as a seconday problem in anaemic/stressed/immunocompromised animals

Question 13

Answer 13

Mycoplasma haemolamae
* Can see blue dots (=epicellular organisms) on/in the RBCs
* If they lose their attachment to RBCs, they are indistinguishable from stain precipitate

Question 14

Diagnosis of Mycoplasma haemolamae

Answer 14

• Can only be diagnosed on fresh blood smear

Question 15

Mite species that can affect camelids

Answer 15

• Sarcoptes, Psoroptes, Chorioptes
• All these cause mange

Question 16

Which anatomical areas is mange seen in for each mite species?

Answer 16

• Distribution of lesions typically similar for all mite species: inguinal, perineal, axilla, ventral regions, inside of forelimbs, sometimes face and ears
• Face and ears - particularly Psoroptes