Camelids

Question 1

which species

Answer 1

llama

Question 2

which species

Answer 2

alpaca

Question 3

which breed

Answer 3

Suri alpaca

Question 4

which breed

Answer 4

Himalayan alpaca

Question 5

which species (small, fleece is thinnest diameter)

Answer 5

vicuna

Question 6

which species (second largest after the llama)

Answer 6

guanaco

Question 7

what are some peculiarities of SAC (South American camelid) skin and blood collection

Answer 7

thick skin and big transverse processes, so to take jugular blood need to go either really close to head or far down between C5 and C6

Question 8

what are some peculiarities of the SAC digestive system

Answer 8

• lip is split and highly muscular to manipulate grass
  fighting teeth (sharp canines)
• 3 compartment stomach (pseudo ruminants): more frequent mixing activity, greater buffering capacity from saccules, VFA absorption efficiency, and longer retention time compared to ruminants
• C1 is fermentation vat, C3 is (orad) fermentation vat and (aborad) glandular stomach
• form pellets

Question 9

what are some peculiarities of SAC foot

Answer 9

nail, not hoof
walk ono P2 and P3
foot pad

Question 10

what are some particularities of camelid blood

Answer 10

elliptical RBCs - some machines may not recognize as RBCs
high MCHC (mean corpuscular Hgb concentration)

Question 11

what are some particularities of camelid reproduction

Answer 11

induced ovulators
copulate in prone position
prolonged ejaculation
diffuse placenta
gestation in left horn, 11 months
parturition during the day

Question 12

what is aberrant male or berserk male syndrome

Answer 12

psychological condition experienced by human-raised camelids, particularly llamas and alpacas, that can cause them to exhibit dangerously aggressive behavior toward humans.

Question 13

what are a few common diseases of SAC? what are a few less common diseases?

Answer 13

common: internal parasites, clostridial infections, recumbency, breeding problems, heat stress
less frequent: pneumonia, enteritis, nutrition, external parasites

Question 14

what are some common dental issues in camelids

Answer 14

needing to saw fighting teeth off
malocclusion, most commonly of incisors: normal incisors contact the dental pad; can correct with files, hand saw, or Dremel
maloccusion of molars can occur too, but some degree of irregularity is normal, so establish if animal is clinically healthy (weight loss, dysphagia)

Question 15

what are some common causes of jaw masses in camelids

Answer 15

tooth root abscess is most common: treat medically with enrofloxacin, or ideally surgically by removing tooth
osteomyelitis (lumpy jaw)
rarely: fracture, cysts, tumors
food in the mouth

Question 16

these C/S are consistent with what Gi condition
vom, regurg, dysphagia, hypersalivation, fetid bath, chronic weight loss

Answer 16

megaesophagus

Question 17

how to diagnose megaesophagus

Answer 17

radiology, barium

Question 18

how to treat megaesophagus

Answer 18

often no cause is identified
feed complete feed
euthanasia

Question 19

how do first compartment flora problems occur? how to treat?

Answer 19

following primary disease and 3 days off feed compartment bacteria die, get
anorexia, depressed contractions, changes in fluid characteristics
transfaunation with llama, sheep, cow, or goat strained fluid, 2-4 times

Question 20

an aggressive eater in a group of llamas exhibits acute depression, gastric atony, fluid distension, stumbling gait, metabolic acidosis, and C1 fluid pH is between 4.0 and 5.0. what is diagnosis?

Answer 20

grain overloadh

Question 21

how to treat grain overload in camelids

Answer 21

correct dehydration, correct systemic acidosis, add AMD, thiamine, restore mcrobiome

Question 22

what are some C/S of third compartment ulcers?

Answer 22

often secondary to another problem
colic, depression, anorexia, bruxism, decreased fecal output

Question 23

how to treat third compartment ulcers

Answer 23

omeprazole 2-4 mg/kg IV (NOT orally)
pantoprazole 1 mg/kg SQ or IV (both PPI)
H2 receptor antagonists are ineffective

Question 24

what % of colic cases are surgical in SAC

Answer 24

50%

Question 25

what are some C/S of colic in SAC

Answer 25

depression, grinding teeth, lateral recumbency, abnormal posture (stretching), straining to defecate CBC and chem are often normal

Question 26

how to prefigures thorough a colic workup in SAC

Answer 26

describe signs, take history, good PE CBC and chem often normal abdominocentesis abdominal rads then, ex lap

Question 27

what are some possible causes of peritonitis

Answer 27

pleuropneumonia pericarditis abdominal abscesses septicemia C3 ulcers pancreatitis

Question 28

what are some C/S of peritonitis

Answer 28

depression, anorexia most common isles, diarrhea, dehydration, tachycardia, weight loss

Question 29

how to diagnose peritonitis? how to treat?

Answer 29

abdominocentesis for dx tx: remove source of infection, AMD (penicillin and gentamicin combination common), NSAID, nutritional support

Question 30

what is typical presentation of upper resp disease ("alpaca snots")

Answer 30

animals returning from shows then get outbreaks, often older females nasal discharge, fever, cough, most recover, but some get penumonia and die necropsy, pleural effusion, lung consolidation

Question 31

what are some viruses suspected to cause upper resp disease in camelids

Answer 31

adenovirus, coronavirus, PI3 (parainfluenza type 3)

Question 32

how is Strep zooepidemicus penumonia diagnosed in SAC? how is it treated?

Answer 32

radiographs. also often no coughing, clue. ampicillin, procaine penicillin G, ceftiofur

Question 33

what condition is often a complication of megaesophagus, can show as a down or paralyzed animal, regurg when tubing (cries), and has a poor prognosis

Answer 33

aspiration pneumonia

Question 34

what are 5 GI parasites SAC can get

Answer 34

coccidia Trichostrongyles Ostertagia Haemonchus Nematodirus

Question 35

camelid who recently was transported has a subclinical infection or fever, anemia, icterus, depression, fertility. blood smear looks like this. what is diagnosis?

Answer 35

cyclic bacteremia on blood smear = Mycoplasma haemolamae (note you can't cultivate in vitro, so can't dx that way)

Question 36

how is Mycoplasma haemolamae treated

Answer 36

healthy llamas can clear infection on own others need tetracycline (20 mg/kg SQ q3 days for 5 treatments)

Question 37

what is parelaphostrongylosis? what is the definitive host, intermediate host, aberrant host?

Answer 37

parasite of white tail deer intermediate host îs gastropod llama (also alpaca, sheep, goat, moose) are aberrant hosts

Question 38

briefly discuss life cycle of paralaphostrongylosis

Answer 38

adult worm in meninges, L1 eggs reach lungs, coughed and swelled then excreted in poop, gastropods eat L2 and L3, when deer eats snail L3 freed in abomasum (C3 in camelid), then migrate to CNS note prepotent period is 82-92 days, very long

Question 39

llama is hypermetric, ataxic, stiff, paretic, head tilt, circling, blind (basically progressive neuro signs). you know the llama has been outdoors and you have seen some white tail deer around. you see malaria, meningitis, and hemorrhage upon histology. what are you suspicious of? how will you diagnose?

Answer 39

parelaphostrongylosis based on signs and presence of WTD, ruling out other diseases, and seeing eosinophils in CSF. note you only see intestinal nematodes in 26% of cases at necropsy, so can't rely on this histo finding

Question 40

you have diagnosed parelaphostrongylosis (the WTD parasite) in a camelid. how will you treat

Answer 40

fenbrendazole and ivermectin plus AIDS: phenylbutazone, flunixin meglumine, DMSO, dexamethasone. and physical therapy: Sling or Aquacow

Question 41

what are 3 ways to prevent parelaphostrongylosis (WTD parasite)

Answer 41

control deer with deer-proof fences control snail by vegetation-free boundaries or barriers around pastures use *ivermectin q4-6 weeks or moxidectin q6-9 weeks

Question 42

camelid shows lip twitch, facial tremor, head shake, ataxia, paresis, fever, colic-like signs. clin path: LEUKOCYTOSIS, CSF increase in nucleated cells (macrophages) and proteins what are you suspicious of? how to conform?

Answer 42

WNV infection RT-PCR or immunohistochemistry

Question 43

how common is WNV infection in camelids

Answer 43

camelids are exposed, but are low risk however if they do get infection px is poor

Question 44

how can WNV be prevented in camelids

Answer 44

*eliminate vector* equine vaccine, but 3 doses

Question 45

what are some predisposing factors for heat stress/stroke

Answer 45

hot weather long distance transport at shows exercising breeding or working during hot hours obesity poorly groomed coat

Question 46

what are key signs of heat stress in SAC

Answer 46

elevated temp, RR, HR *drooping of lower lip and scrotal/perineal swelling or edema*

Question 47

give several ways to treat heat stress/stroke

Answer 47

cool with water, pool, in front of farm (if mild case), alcohol ru, in shade, ice water enema give access to water, orogastric or IV fluids

Question 48

how to prevent heat stress/stroke? give a few ways

Answer 48

adequate shade fresh water clip or shear hair to 1 to 2 inches well ventilated barn misters, sprinklers, wading pools avoid breeding or moving animals during hot part of day keep animals fit feed better quality roughage

Question 49

young alpaca or llama has crusts mostly on hairless areas of body, eg. axilla, medial thighs, perineum, bridge of nose, muzzle they are NOT PRURITIC what condition is likely? how do you treat?

Answer 49

idiopathic keratosis often respond to zinc injections, even if the zinc levels are normal