2008 Show Season – Biosecurity is Still Critical!

The 2008 show season has arrived and it appears we need to re-consider biosecurity. 

Several veterinarians and camelid owners have contacted the veterinarians at The Ohio State University and the ICI staff, indicating animals transported for show are developing diarrhea which results in illness in herd mates on the home farm.  This diarrhea appears to have a viral origin and has already produced illness in animals that remain on the home farms.   

One DVM has demonstrated Rotavirus in the feces, using transmission electron microscopy, and several others report that a Coronavirus was observed, using the same technology.  Animals returning to both coasts from these Midwestern shows brought this problem home with them. 

I spoke to a referring DVM who indicated he has been to a farm where animals returning to their home farm were followed in several days by two late-term abortions, with other pregnant females at risk. 

After last summer’s devastating respiratory “virus” we should stop and take stock of the situation.  What can we learn from last summer’s illness and losses?  How are our biosecurity protocols working?  Does the farm help have a stake in the success of biosecurity?    

My last message suggested we invest in biosecurity and develop protocols that everyone buys into.  We made a plea for the protection of the young animals and breeding stock by keeping the show string animals separated from the home farm animals completely.  With this current situation, it is obvious that this is a necessary precaution.

It is time to develop protocols for show animals and the breeding stock to prevent the spread of disease to the young and the pregnant animals.  I think you will agree that preventing the spread of these agents to your breeding stock is critical to the health and well being of the animals on your farm and, by extension, to the national herds. 

Jeffrey Lakritz
Director, International Camelid Institute
April, 2008