Search

Lamanema chavezi is an entero-hepatic strongylid parasite specific to South American camelids. It has been reported only on few occasions outside South America. Due to its hepatic migration, it can cause extensive liver damage, leading to granulomatous and fibrotic hepatitis and manifesting with lethargy, anorexia, and even death. We are reporting the second case of L. chavezi infection in Europe and the first in Switzerland. The patient was a three-year old neutered male llama (Lama glama). Clinical examination revealed bloody mucous discharge from the anus. Fecal sedimentation/flotation revealed strongylid eggs consistent with L. chavezi, which were molecularly confirmed by a PCR targeting the ITS2 plus 5.8S and 28S rDNA flanking regions and amplicon sequencing. Eighteen weeks after administration of a single dose of eprinomectin (0.2 mg/kg i.m.), no further L. chavezi eggs were detected in the feces. The source of infection could not be traced back. The entire herd consisted of llamas bred in Switzerland. L. chavezi has been rarely reported outside South America, but its potential for pathogenicity and establishment should not be underestimated. Fecal sedimentation/flotation techniques should be routinely performed to ensure early detection of the parasite., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Vicuñas (Vicugna vicugna) are wild South American camelids (SACs) protected by law in Argentina, and information on pathogens that infect them is scarce. In this study, an adult vicuña found dead in the province of Salta was examined, and evidence of infection by Sarcocystis sp. protozoans was sought. Infection of skeletal muscles by S. aucheniae, with the production of macroscopic sarcocysts, a disease known as SAC sarcocystosis, has been described in the other three SACs - llamas, alpacas, and guanacos - but its occurrence in vicuñas has so far remained unknown. In the analyzed individual, many macroscopic cysts compatible with S. aucheniae were found upon necropsy in the muscular tissue of the neck and diaphragm. Analysis of 18 S rRNA and cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox-1) gene sequences by BLAST searches and construction of phylogenetic trees demonstrated that the etiological agent was S. aucheniae. Our results show for the first time that vicuñas act as intermediate hosts in the life cycle of this parasite. In addition, this study provides the first cox-1 sequences for S. aucheniae isolates from the four SAC species acting as intermediate hosts and suggests that this marker could be useful for genotypification of this parasite species. The impact of SAC sarcocystosis on the health, well-being, and fitness of vicuñas, and the relevance of vicuña infections in the epidemiology of S. auchaniae, remain to be elucidated., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

South American Camelids, including alpacas, have gained popularity in Europe as pets and prized wool sources. Skin health concerns, particularly mite infestations, have emerged as a notable problem in these animals. Sarcoptic mange can lead to severe itching, papules, and chronic symptoms such as alopecia, crusts, and emaciation if left untreated. This case report documents a 2-year-old female alpaca suffering from sarcoptic mange. Despite initial treatment with ivermectin, its condition worsened, leading to severe weight loss, abortion, and a continued presence of mites. Considering the lack of effective treatments for sarcoptic mange in alpacas and the unavailability of registered drugs for this species in Italy, fluralaner, a drug previously used in other animal species, has been administered orally at a dosage of 5 mg/kg. Within a week after the treatment with fluralaner, the patient exhibited significant improvement, including the resolution of itching, healing of skin lesions, and an increase in appetite. Follow-up skin scrapings confirmed the absence of mites, and the patient's condition continued to improve. Fluralaner demonstrated to be a highly effective and fast-acting treatment for sarcoptic mange in alpacas, offering potential economic benefits attributed to its single-dose administration., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

This paper aims to describe a case of trombiculosis in llamas from the Puna region of Argentina caused by Eutrombicula cochinocaensis. Trombiculosis is a parasitic infestation caused by the larval form of trombiculid mites, commonly known as chigger mites. Six adult llamas out of eighteen (33%) were infested and showed dermatitis, hyperemia, and crusts together with an orange-dotted pattern. The chigger mites were found mainly in the hind limbs and the abdomen. Microscopic identification of E. cochinocaensis was made by phase-contrast microscopy. Then, a histopathological study of the affected animals' skin was performed. Histological findings included dermatitis withmainly lymphocytic infiltrate, pustules, crusts, hyperkeratosis, and the mites' stylostomes in the dermis and epidermis. This is the first report of trombiculosis caused by E. cochinocaensis in llamas from Argentina. Mites of the family Trombiculidae are vectors of certain diseases to humans and animals and are therefore of sanitary and productive importance., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Sarcocystis masoni n. sp. (known as "S. lamacanis") infects alpacas affecting their productivity and can cause a food poisoning syndrome in humans by consuming contaminated, undercooked cardiac muscle. There are few studies estimating the prevalence of this parasite in alpacas, although this information is crucial for the control and prevention of sarcocystosis. This study aimed to determine the frequency and density of Sarcocystis masoni n. sp. in the heart of alpacas in Huancavelica, a province of the Andean region of Peru. Heart samples were taken for histopathology from 104 alpacas slaughtered at the municipal slaughterhouse of Huancavelica, the official abattoir in the Huancavelica district. No macroscopic sarcocysts were observed. All alpacas (100%) had microscopic sarcocysts of Sarcocystis masoni n. sp., with no inflammatory reactions. The alpacas showed an average sarcocyst density of 60.8 ± 23.3/mm 2 . Sarcocysts density was significantly higher (p < 0.05) as the age of the animals increased. In addition, sarcocysts density was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in male animals aged 4 and 5 years compared to females of the same age. These results confirmed that heart sarcocystosis is highly endemic in Peruvian alpacas. Therefore, it is recommended that alpaca hearts be well-cooked at the time of consumption. The present study showed current data and contributes to the knowledge of this parasitosis. Studies of this nature are necessary because they are the basis for developing animal health programs., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Alpacas are important to the economy of several countries. Little is known of Toxoplasma gondii infection in alpacas worldwide. In the present study, T. gondii was isolated and genetically characterized from alpacas for the first time. Alpacas (n = 16) and rams (n = 12) pastured on a farm in Virginia, USA, were examined at necropsy. Antibodies to T. gondii were determined by the modified agglutination test (MAT, 1:25) and found in 6 of 16 alpacas with titers of 1:100 (2 alpaca), 1:400 (2 alpacas), 1:800 (1 alpaca), and 1:1,600 (1 alpaca), and 5 of 12 rams in titers of 1:50 in one, 1:400 in one, 1:800 in one, 1:1,600 in one, and 1:3,200 in one. Tissues of all 16 alpacas were bioassayed in mice or in cats. Muscles (heart, skeletal muscle) of nine alpacas with MAT titers of 1:25 were fed to T. gondii-free cats; the cats did not shed oocysts. Viable T. gondii was isolated from tissues of two of six seropositive alpacas by bioassay in mice. Viable T. gondii was isolated from three of three seropositive sheep by bioassay in mice. Genotyping using cell-cultured tachyzoites revealed four genotypes, including one for ToxoDB PCR-RFLP genotype #2 (type III), one for genotype #3 (type II variant), one for genotype #170, and two for a new genotype designated as ToxoDB PCR-RFLP genotype #230. Thus, four of the five T. gondii isolates in the present study belonged to different genotypes. These results indicate a higher genetic diversity among T. gondii isolates circulating in the USA than previously realized.

The objective of this study was to investigate the presence of Toxoplasma gondii- and Neospora caninum-specific antibodies in domestic South American camelids (SAC) (llamas and alpacas) from the Peruvian Andes through a cross-sectional study. A wide panel of serum samples collected from 1,845 llamas and 2,874 alpacas from the two main SAC production areas of Peru was selected. Immunofluorescence antibody technique was employed to detect and titrate specific anti-T. gondii and anti-N. caninum immunoglobulins G in serum samples. The association between T. gondii and N. caninum seroprevalence and the geographical origin (Central and South Peruvian Andes) was evaluated. Anti-T. gondii antibodies were found in 460 (24.9 %) llamas and 706 (24.6 %) alpacas, whereas anti-N. caninum antibodies were detected in 153 (8.3 %) llamas and 425 (14.8 %) alpacas. Toxoplasma gondii infection was strongly associated with the South Peruvian Andes where moderate climate conditions, larger human population, compared to the Central region, and the presence of wildlife definitive hosts could favor horizontal transmission to SAC. In contrast, N. caninum infection was not associated with the geographical region. These results indicate that T. gondii and N. caninum infections are highly and moderately widespread, respectively, in both species of domestic SAC studied in the sampled areas and appropriate control measures should be undertaken to reduce the prevalence of both parasitic infections.

The breeding of wild animals for commercial purposes is becoming more frequent nowadays. This situation has led to an increase in contact rates between wild and domestic animals, with subsequent reciprocal transmission of parasites. In this study, we characterized the gastrointestinal and blood parasites of a group of 15 semi-captive guanacos (Lama guanicoe). We characterized gastrointestinal parasites by analyzing fecal samples through the sedimentation-flotation technique and hemoparasites by using blood smears stained with Giemsa. We found several gastrointestinal parasites including Nematoda and protozoans. The most frequently found parasites were Nematodirus sp. and Eimeria sp. In contrast with previous studies, neither Cestoda nor Fasciola were found. The only hemoparasite detected was Mycoplasma haemolamae, a parasite already described in llamas and alpacas. We conclude that the most frequent gastrointestinal parasites of semi-captive guanacos were nematodes and protozoans. Also, the hemoparasite M. haemolamae seems to be prevalent among captive populations of South American camelids. Finally, captive guanacos share several parasites with the traditional livestock. Therefore, keeping captive or semi-captive guanacos without an adequate sanitary protocol might have adverse consequences to adjacent traditional cattle farming and/or for wild animals.

A trial was carried out in alpacas (Lama pacos) to determine the economic benefit of controlling both external and internal parasites using ivermectin (Ivomec, Merck, Sharpe and Dohme). After four months the treated male alpacas had gained on average 3.1 kg more than the untreated males and their fleece weighed 0.36 kg more. Treated females gained 1.9 kg more than the controls but their fleece weighed 0.03 kg less. This resulted in a net financial benefit to the farmer of US$3.54 for each male alpaca and US$1.36 for each female.