CAMELIDS, and alpacas in particular, are growing in popularity in the UK. These animals often present with skin disease and provide a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for the veterinary clinician. While much has been made about the role of nutritional problems related to zinc, dermatological problems in these species are frequently associated with chronic infestation with Chorioptes mites. The use of macrocyclic lactones and other products may readily treat infestations with other ectoparasites, such as Psoroptes and Sarcoptes mites, but these agents may have to be administered repeatedly to reduce the population of Chorioptes mites. This article describes the most common ectoparasitic conditions seen in South American camelids in the UK as well as some less common problems associated with nutrition, infections, neoplasia and immune‐mediated disease, and discusses an approach to the diagnosis and management of skin disease in these species.

SOUTH American camelids, particularly alpacas (Lama pacos), are becoming increasingly popular exotic livestock species in the UK. As with most exotic animals, veterinary intervention relies heavily on knowledge gained with more conventional and familiar species. However, species differences must be taken into consideration, and it is crucial that exotic patients are placed within the appropriate biological context. This article discusses the husbandry procedures commonly adopted for alpacas in the UK and describes how routine veterinary techniques are conducted in this species. It also outlines an approach to disease prevention.

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The electrocardiographic parameters of 40 healthy alpacas (Lama pacos) were recorded with a base-apex lead system to establish the normal resting electrocardiographic parameters in this species. The following parameters were measured: heart rate and rhythm, QRS and T morphology, ST segment position, P amplitude and duration, QRS duration and PQ and QT intervals. The heart rate varied between 50 and 110 bpm, with a mean (sd) of 80 (17.8) bpm, and no significant differences were observed between males and females or between alpacas of different ages. Sinus arrhythmia was observed in 35 of the animals, and a regular sinus rhythm was recorded in the other five. The QRS morphology was variable, with an 'rS' pattern observed in 29 animals, 'RS' in six, 'Rs' in three and 'QS' in the other two. A variable morphology was also observed for the T wave, which was positive in 27 animals, negative in seven and biphasic in the other six. All the electrocardiographic parameters were normally distributed and no significant differences were observed between the sexes, except that the amplitude of the P wave was higher in males. The PQ interval was significantly shorter in animals less than six months old.

The large number of samples obtained for this study was considerable given the rare and endangered status of this species, which overall afforded narrow RIs and CIs. The main exception was for the PLT constituents. The significant differences observed between the captive and wild male gazelles show the need to understand the origin of the animals for which hematologic RIs are determined.