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

32.3. RISK MANAGEMENT
32.3.1. Options
The following points were considered when drafting options for the effective management
of T. evansi and T. vivax in the commodity:
� The disease may be chronic and during periods of remission infected animals may
show no signs of disease. Therefore, quarantine alone is not a reliable method to
prevent entry of the organisms. However, quarantine and testing in insect-free
premises could help ensure that animals are not incubating the disease when
imported.
� There are no vaccines or treatments suitable for use when importing animals.
� A number of test options are available for the diagnosis of infection in both acutely
and chronically infected animals.
� There are no Code chapters relating to surra or trypanosomosis caused by T. vivax,
but T. evansi is covered in the Manual. Diagnosis of surra is usually based on the
demonstration of the parasites in the blood, supplemented by serological tests.
One or a combination of the following measures could be considered in order to effectively
manage the risks.
1. Camelids could be introduced without restrictions.
N.B. This measure assumes that camelids cannot carry either of the trypanosomes and/or
that they could not establish in New Zealand. This measure would be further supported by
the fact that both T. evansi and T. vivax have remained confined to certain tropical and subtropical
countries and have never occurred in temperate climates.
2. As close as practicably possible to the date of departure, animals could undergo
direct examination of the blood by a concentration method recommended in the
Manual, with no parasites observed.
3. Animals to be imported could undergo a sensitive serological test (e.g. ELISA) for T.
evansi and T. vivax within 1 week of shipment.
N.B. The above two measures ( 2 and 3) are usually combined to diagnose infection.
4. Animals to be imported could be isolated in insect-free premises for 4 weeks and
tested by a sensitive serological test (e.g. ELISA) for T. evansi and T. vivax within 1
week of shipment.
N.B. In this case animals that are incubating the infection and are serologically negative
when introduced into quarantine premises would seroconvert and be detected before
shipment.
118 ● Import risk analysis: Llamas and alpacas from specified countries MAF Biosecurity New Zealand