Camelids
Internal Parasites
Nematode worms are an ever-present hazard to all grazing species. Alpacas, unlike most other grazing species, do not develop a long-lasting immunity to nematodes, which means infections can be seen in all ages. In fact we probably see as many problems with worms in adults, due to a build up of infection on overstocked pastures, as we do in crias. Nematode worms come in a variety of different types:
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Blood sucking worms that live in the stomach causing anaemia and even sudden death in all ages of alpaca
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Intestinal worms that live in the stomach and intestines, causing diarrhoea, loss of weight and eventual death.
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Lungworms that live in the lungs. contributing to coughing and pneumonia in crias
Nematode worms are normally controlled by using anthelmintic drugs (wormers), of which there are numerous different products on the market. None of these are licensed for use in camelids and must be prescribed by your veterinary surgeon.
Trematode worms (Flukes) live in the bile ducts and gall bladder of alpacas. They cause liver damage and anaemia in all ages and require specialist treatments for their control. If you have or suspect fluke infection, then you should immediately seek specialist advice from Larkmead.
Cestode worms (Tapeworms) live in the small intestine. Although the alpaca tapeworm is generally considered to be harmless in adult alpacas, they may cause diarrhoea and loss of weight in crias under 6 months.
NOTE: Dog and fox tapeworms pass segments that can cause damage to alpacas if they are ingested. Although these segments do not develop into adult tapeworms in the alpaca, they migrate through the tissues of various organs. Some species migrate through the liver, others migrate to the brain. It is very important to keep all dogs well wormed for tapeworms using an effective product such as Drontal Plus. Do not feed dogs on raw sheep offal, for fear of perpetuating the tapeworm life-cycle.
Coccidia are unlike the above, in that they are not helminth worms, but protozoa. They live in very large numbers in the small and large intestines of alpacas, and can cause diarrhoea and growth retardation in crias of up to 10 weeks of age. The normal anthelmintic drugs do not control coccidia and specialist medicines are required. If you have scouring crias, you may have a coccidiosis problem and should consult Larkmead.
Treatments
The treatment of all of these different types of internal parasites is very complex, and there is no single medication that can deal successfully with all of them. To further complicate matters, many of these parasites have become resistant to the effects of some anthelmintics, making their control even more difficult.
In general, worming should not be used as a routine treatment, given every few weeks regardless. This only encourages resistance to the anthelmintic used, and will soon lead to problems. before worming is undertaken, we strongly recommend that dung samples are submitted to us, so we can determine the size of the worm burden by the number of eggs found in the dung. based on this, we can advise whether or not your animals need worming.
This may not just be based on the number of eggs in the dung, but also on the history and stocking density on the farm. Pasture rotation is the gold standard in worm control. Resting pastures, not just for a few weeks but for one to two years is the most effective way of reducing your worming need and the challenge on the alpacas. If space is available then rotating between grass for alpacas one year and then cattle grazing the following year and crop grazing the year after, it is possible to have available pasture that can be said to be relatively worm free, after the pasture has been used for other purposes for two years. This is not true after resting the pasture for two weeks or six months – that pasture will still be infected with worm eggs.
Worming products are basically from three families of chemicals, although the trade names for these drugs vary considerably. Consult your vet to help you decide which is the most appropriate treatment. The three families are the avermectins the levamisoles and the benzimedazoles (white drenches). It should be noted that using some of these products at the normal cattle or sheep dose is inadequate for worm control in the alpaca. For example, Panacur should be used at 20mg/kg which is four times the sheep dose. HOWEVER, levamisole needs to be used at a lower dose than sheep and cattle, as toxicity is possible at twice the normal alpaca dose 8mg/kg. Therefore one should consult your vet to ensure that you are using your worming products correctly.
For detailed information on anthelmintic resistance and the Sustainable Control of Parasites in Sheep (SCOPS), go to: www.nationalsheep.org.uk/images/stories/pdf/WormControl_BW.pdf
Read the NADIS Sheep Bulletin, sponsored by Eblex, covering Anthelmintic Resistance on Sheep Farms...........NADIS Quiz
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Last Updated : 29 January 2008 (C) Larkmead Veterinary Group