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

29. Salmonella spp.
29.1. HAZARD IDENTIFICATION
29.1.1. Aetiological agent
There are approximately 2,500 known serovars in the Salmonella genus (Davies 2008). All
organisms considered in this section belong to the species enterica and the subspecies
enterica except for Salmonella arizonae, which belongs to the subspecies arizonae. Using
correct conventions, the names of serovars such as Dublin and Typhimurium, which do not
have species status, should not be italicised. The correct name for the serovar
Typhimurium is Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium. However, in
this risk analysis the simplified form Salmonella Typhimurium is used. Phage typing of
Salmonella serovars is also commonly used to classify strains. The definitive phage type
number is given after the serovar name e.g. Salmonella Typhimurium DT104.
29.1.2. OIE list
Only Salmonella Abortusovis, Salmonella Pullorum and Salmonella Gallinarum are listed.
29.1.3. New Zealand status
Salmonella Abortusovis, Salmonella arizonae, Salmonella Dublin, Salmonella Enteritidis
DT4, Salmonella Gallinarum, Salmonella Pullorum, Salmonella Typhimurium DT44 and
DT104 and salmonellae (exotic affecting animals), are listed as unwanted organisms (MAF
2009).
Salmonellae isolated in New Zealand are identified to serovar and phage type by the
Environmental Science and Research (ESR) laboratory and recorded on a database (ESR
2009). Isolations from both medical and animal health laboratories are included. In 2008
there were 1399 isolates from humans and 1349 isolates from non-human sources (mainly
animals). The most common serotype isolated from both human and non-human sources
was S.Typhimurium. S. Typhimurium DT104 is of particular importance because it
exhibits multiple resistance to the commonly used antibiotics and is a threat to human
health (Hogue et al 1997; Jones et al 2002; Plagemann 1989). In 2008 the definitive phage
types DT104 and DT44 were not isolated from humans or animals.
29.1.4. Epidemiology
There is little specific information about Salmonella infections in camelids. In an extensive
review up to 2002, Wernery and Kaaden (2002) mention only one report of salmonellosis
in camelids. No salmonellae were isolated from 45 crias with diarrhoea and 268 llamas
from 29 properties (Rulofson et al 2001; Cebra et al 2003).
The first report of enteric salmonellosis in New World camelids appeared in 2004, a case
of suppurative hepatitis in an alpaca associated with S. Typhimurium (Saulez et al 2004).
Other forms of salmonellosis in camelids include meningitis in a newborn alpaca caused
by S. Newport (D'Alterio et al 2003) and two cases of septicaemic salmonellosis caused by
S. Choleraesuis and S. Typhimurium (Anderson et al 1995). Salmonellosis has been
suggested as a cause of neonatal mortality in crias (Tibary et al 2006).
MAF Biosecurity New Zealand Import risk analysis: Llamas and alpacas from specified countries ● 107