South American camelids in the United Kingdom: population statistics, mortality rates and causes of death

Abstract

A survey of the health of South American camelids in the United Kingdom was carried out between December 1992 and June 1993; 123 members of the British Camelid Owners and Breeders Association and 19 non-members were sent questionnaires and usable responses were received from 84 (59 per cent). In total 689 camelids were included, and in 1992, 66 per cent were Ilama, 21 per cent alpaca and 13 per cent guanaco. Their ages ranged from less than six months to over 10 years, with animals aged two to five years constituting the largest proportion. The mortality rates between 1990 and 1992 were 2.7 to 3.3 per cent for Ilama, 3.5 to 6.9 per cent for alpaca and 0 to 11.4 per cent for guanaco. The highest mortality was in animals less than six months and more than 10 years old; 4 to 11 per cent of Ilama deaths and 17 to 33 per cent of alpaca deaths were in animals aged less than six months and a high proportion of these occurred during the first week of life. In the cases for which a cause was reported, accidents and injury accounted for 20 per cent of Ilama deaths, and perinatal deaths accounted for 22 per cent of alpaca deaths. A third of the deaths were reported as being of unknown cause, and a veterinary diagnosis was reported in less than half of the cases. These data suggest that attention to the environment and housing conditions of Ilama, the neonatal care of alpaca and improvements in diagnosis are priorities for reducing the mortality and improving the health of South American camelids in the UK.

Neuweltkameliden in der Schweiz. I . Population, Haltung und Gesundheitsprobleme

“…Population, Haltung und Gesundheitsprobleme I. Hengrave Burri 1 , J. Martig 1 , H. Sager 2 , A. Liesegang 3 , M. Meylan 1 1 Wiederkäuerklinik und 2 Institut für Parasitologie der Universität Bern, 3 Institut für Tierernährung der Universität Zürich Einleitung Die Popularität der Neuweltkameliden (NWK) hat in den letzten Jahren ständig zugenommen. Ihre Population wächst stetig, nicht nur in den USA (Smith, 1998), wo das Interesse für diese Tiere schon seit Jahrzehnten vorhanden ist, sondern auch in Europa (Davis et al, 1998) sowie in der Schweiz (Wenker et al, 1998). Die zwei bekanntesten NWK-Spezies, das Lama (Lama glama) und das Alpaka (Lama pacos) sind nicht mehr vorwiegend in schweizerischen Zoos oder Zirkusunternehmen zu finden, sondern bei privaten Tierhaltern.Aufgrund der unterschiedlichen Verwendung als Zuchttiere, Woll-und Fleischproduzenten, Trekkingbegleiter oder reine Weidepfleger stehen diese Tiere zwischen Nutz-und Haustieren.…”

Reproductive emergencies in camelids

“…In an epidemiological study in the United Kingdom, 4-11% of deaths amongst llamas and 17-33% of deaths in alpacas occur during the first 6 months of life. A high proportion of these deaths occur within the first week of life [31,74]. In camels, neonatal mortality can reach 50% of the calf crop in the first 10 days of life [45].…”

Antibody response to the epsilon toxin of Clostridium perfringens following vaccination of Lama glama crias

“…Studies in the United Kingdom showed 4-11% of llama deaths were in animals under six months old (crias) with a high proportion occurring in the first week of life [1]. Enterotoxemia caused by Clostridium perfringens is a major cause of mortality in neonatal llamas [2][3][4] and type D organisms have been found in llamas in Argentina [5].…”