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

(Kittelberger et al 2002) and is therefore unreliable in individual animals although it may
have application as a flock test. Ultrasound scanning has been suggested as a means of
diagnosis in live animals but it is in principle not suitable for diagnosis of recently infested
cases with small lesions. There is no literature indicating that ultrasound scanning is
reliable or has been validated.
Immunisation with a recombinant vaccine has proved to be highly effective in lambs
vaccinated at a young age according to the recommended regimen. It is not effective in
sheep that are already infested and therefore, for control of infestation vaccination of
young lambs is recommended (Heath & Holcman 1997; Heath et al 2003; Gauci et al
2005). However, the vaccine is not yet produced commercially, is not registered for use
and has not been used in camelids. Therefore, it is not an option at the present time.
Legal requirements that apply domestically that relate directly to the control of
Echinococcus granulosus/hydatidosis are:
Biosecurity Declaration of a Controlled Area Notice- Echinococcus granulosus (Hydatids)
declares the whole of New Zealand to be a controlled area in which raw offal from
livestock C shall not be accessible by dogs:
i. Slaughter and dressing of livestock shall take place in a dog-proof
enclosure.
ii. Owners shall control their dogs at all times in such a manner as to prevent
them from having access to raw offal of livestock.
iii. Offal shall be cooked by boiling for a minimum of 30 minutes before
feeding to dogs.
33.1.5. Hazard identification conclusion
Echinococcus granulosus is known to affect camelids and is present in all countries
relevant to this risk analysis. Hydatidosis cannot be reliably diagnosed in live animals.
Therefore E. granulosus is considered to be a potential hazard in the commodity.
33.2. RISK ASSESSMENT
33.2.1. Entry assessment
Echinococcus has a global distribution and cannot be reliably diagnosed in live animals.
Therefore, the likelihood of introducing the parasite in imported camelids is assessed to be
non-negligible.
33.2.2. Exposure assessment
Introduced camelids will be kept on farms and may have contact with dogs. The slaughter
of camelids at home kill facilities is probably an uncommon practice when compared to
sheep. However, if camelid offal is fed to dogs, or if dogs eat offal from a dead infested
camelid they could become infested and in turn infest herbivourous intermediate hosts.
Although there is some evidence that the camelid/carnivore cycle may be
epidemiologically distinct from the sheep/carnivore cycle this has not been definitively
C The Notice interprets livestock to mean: animals kept for use or profit and includes, but are not limited to,
sheep, goats, cattle, deer, horses, llamas, alpacas and camels.
MAF Biosecurity New Zealand Import risk analysis: Llamas and alpacas from specified countries ● 121