Review of laboratory submissions from New World camelids in England and Wales (2000-2011).
Sample submissions to the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency's (AHVLA's) diagnostic laboratory network in England and Wales were reviewed for diseases affecting New World camelids (NWCs). In the years 2000-2011, 6757 submissions were analysed, including 5154/6757 (76.3%) for diagnosing a disease problem and 1603/6757 (23.7%) for monitoring (no clinical disease). Wasting (weight loss, ill-thrift) was the most commonly reported clinical sign across all age groups. A diagnosis was reached for 1765/5154 (34.2%) diagnostic submissions. The proportion of submissions with diagnoses was higher for carcasses than non-carcass samples and multiple diagnoses were more likely to be reached from carcasses. Parasitic diseases were collectively the most common problem, including parasitic gastroenteritis (319/1765, 18.2%), coccidiosis (187/1765, 10.6%), fascioliasis (151/1765, 8.6%), ectoparasitic infestations (86/1765, 4.9%) and cryptosporidiosis (24/1765, 1.4%). The most frequently diagnosed non-parasitic problems included nutritional diseases (182/1765, 10.3%), septicaemia (104/1765, 5.9%, including 45 cases of colisepticaemia), gastric ulceration (79/1765, 4.5%), tumours/neoplastic diseases (65/1765, 3.7%), tuberculosis (57/1765, 3.2%), clostridial diseases (44/1765, 2.5%), congenital anomalies (41/1765, 2.3%), peritonitis (39/1765, 2.2%) and Johne's disease (20/1765, 1.1%).
Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Starcross Regional Laboratory, Staplake Mount, Starcross, Exeter, Devon EX6 8PE, UK. Electronic address: finn.twomey@ahvla.gsi.gov.uk.
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Twomey
Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Epidemiology, Surveillance and Risk Analysis Group, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK.
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Wu
Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Data Systems Group, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK.
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Nicholson
Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Epidemiology, Surveillance and Risk Analysis Group, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK.
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Watson
Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Shrewsbury Regional Laboratory, Kendal Road, Harlescott, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY1 4HD, UK.
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Foster
D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D002161:Camelids, New World; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014852:Wales / Q000453:epidemiology
Alpaca; Laboratory diagnostic records; Llama; New World camelid