The document provides updates from Ohio State University's College of Veterinary Medicine regarding research being conducted on camelids. It discusses new faculty in theriogenology, an alpaca embryo transfer program, pharmacokinetic studies of florfenicol in alpacas, stifle arthroscopy in camelids, pharmacokinetics of midazolam in camelids, dental disease research, and an upcoming international camelid health conference for veterinarians. It also reviews common parasites in camelids and deworming strategies.
1. Updates from Ohio State and Camelid Parasite Diagnosis, Control, and Prevention Rebecca Pentecost, DVM Hospital for Farm Animals Veterinary Clinical Sciences
38. Pharmacokinetics of Midazolam in South American Camelids Anesthesia and Farm Animal Sections Collaborative Project Dr. Pam Fry, Dr. Turi Aarnes, Dr. John Hubbell, Dr. Jeff Lakritz
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
47. Parasites and Camelids – Should We Be Worried? Becky Pentecost, DVM The Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center Hospital for Farm Animals
48.
49.
50.
51. Common Nematode Parasites GI Tract Location Parasites C3 Haemonchus contortus, Trichostrongylus, Ostertagia, Camelostrongylus, Teladorsagia, and Marshallagia Small Intestines Nematodirus, Cooperia, Trichostrongylus Large Intestines/Cecum Trichuris, Capillaria, and Oesophagostumum spp
52. Life Cycle Review for Trichostrongyle-types Infective larvae are ingested during grazing Eggs hatch, larvae develop to L3 in soil and manure Eggs passed onto pasture in manure Adult nematodes in the digestive tract of camelids lay their eggs.
Eggs produced by females Passed in manure Larva develop in fecal mass L1 hatches, feeds on bacteria, undergoes two molts L3 makes way out of feces onto forage Ingested Develops to L4, to immature adult After maturation, starts producing eggs Prepatent period is appx 3 weeks Occasional hypobiotic periods (RARE) Weather dependent (shown in Great Britain study, cold then warming to 10 C with moist environment needed to hatch.
Fecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) – eggs/gram at pretreatment levels versus those 10-14 days later. For practical purposes, a 90% reduction suggests successful treatment and <90% reduction may indicate resistant parasites, ineffective dose or route of administration. Egg count concerns – <200 epg are usually considered ok if BCS is also normal. If epg is rising, animals have poor bcs or other signs of ill thrift, it is possible treatment may be helpful. Epg significance is much lower when considering low or intermittently shedding parasites like trichuris, capillaria, nematodirus, or emac (even low numbers may warrant treatment).
Not ideal to blanket treat entire herd or to rotate dewormers regularly as this may lead to the development of resistant parasites. The ideal approach involves selectively treating animals based on fecal counts and clinical signs (20% of animals harbor 80% of the herd parasite burden). Targeted deworming allows one to leave a population of parasites that have not been exposed to specific drugs. Leaving these naïve parasites helps prevent selection for resistant parasites (refugia, as coined by parasitologists).
Large volume of blood lost by animal. 10 days of losing 200mL = 2L