Import risk analysis: Llamas (Lama glama) and alpacas (Vicugna ...

Animals become septicaemic a few hours before death and culture from blood is possible
only in this period (Srivastava et al 2008). Recovered animals and latently infected animals
carry the organism in their tonsils. Repeated culturing of tonsillar swabs is recommended
in the Code (OIE 2009b). 6.B and 6.E strains produce hyaluronidase and can be identified
by various PCR methods as well as serological methods (Srivastava et al 2008).
Serological tests using the indirect haemagglutination test are seldom used. High antibody
titres are indicative of recent infection (Srivastava et al 2008) but are not useful for
detecting latent carriers.
Both live and dead vaccines have been used. Vaccination as a means of control has been
reviewed (De Alwis 1999). Although most authorities believe that vaccination reduces
mortality, accurate data are not available and there is no evidence that suggests it could be
used in imported camelids to effectively control the entry of the organism.
There is some doubt about the occurrence of the disease in camels. Some cases of natural
infection have been described but attempts to transmit the disease with isolates have
generally failed. The situation has been reviewed by Werney & Kaaden (2002). The
meeting of the OIE ad hoc group on Camelidae diseases classified haemorrhagic
septicaemia as a significant disease of camels. In camelids, haemorrhagic septicaemia is
classified as a minor or non-significant disease and the group recommended that work be
done on controversial data on the susceptibility and aetiology in camelids (OIE 2009a). No
evidence was found that camelids are susceptible to haemorrhagic septicaemia.
28.1.5. Hazard identification conclusion
Since haemorrhagic septicaemia is predominantly a disease of cattle and buffalo and no
evidence could be found of it occurring in camelids it is not considered to be a hazard in
the commodity.
References
Bastianello SS, Henton MM (2004). Haemorrhagic septicaemia. In: Coetzer JAW, Tustin RC (eds), Infectious
Diseases of Livestock, Vol. 3, Oxford University Press, Cape Town. Pp. 1689-94.
Carter RGR (1998). Hemorrhagic septicaemia, Foreign animal diseases. The Gray Book. Available at:
http://www.usaha.org/pubs/fad.pdf, downloaded 9/9/2009.
De Alwis MC (1992). Haemorrhagic septicaemia-a general review. British Veterinary Journal, 148(2), 99-112.
De Alwis MC, Wijewardana TG, Gomis AI, Vipulasiri AA (1990). Persistence of the carrier status in
haemorrhagic septicaemia (Pasteurella multocida serotype 6:B infection) in buffaloes. Tropical Animal Health
and Production, 22(3), 185-94.*
De Alwis MCL (1999). Haemorrhagic septicaemia. Available at: http://www.aciar.gov.au/publication/MN57,
downloaded 30/6/2009.
OIE (2008a). Report of the meeting of the ad hoc group on Camelidae diseases. Available at:
http://www.oie.int/downld/SC/2008/A_Diseases_Camelides_july08.pdf, downloaded 1/7/2009.
OIE (2009b). Terrestrial Animal Health Code. Available at:
http://www.oie.int/eng/normes/MCode/en_sommaire.htm, downloaded 30/6/2009.
MAF Biosecurity New Zealand Import risk analysis: Llamas and alpacas from specified countries ● 105