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

34.1.4.2. Trematodes
The following trematodes do not occur in New Zealand, but could be associated with
camelids:
Dicrocoelium dendriticum
Eurytrema pancreaticum
Fasciola gigantica
Fascioloides magna
Dicrocoelium dendriticum is a small fluke found in the bile ducts of sheep goats, cattle
deer and rabbits and, occasionally, horses and pigs. Two intermediate hosts are required; a
snail and an ant. Infestation may be subclinical but if severe, anaemia emaciation and
oedema may be seen. Diagnosis is confirmed by identification of eggs in faeces. A number
of effective drugs are available for treatment, these include netobimin, albendazole and
praziquantel (Taylor et al 2007b).
Eurytrema pancreaticum is a small fluke found in pancreatic ducts and sometimes in bile
ducts. It is found in cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goats, pigs, camels, and humans in South
America, Asia and Europe. Snails and grasshoppers are required for completion of the
lifecycle. Low and moderate infestations produce little effect on the host and diagnosis is
usually made as an incidental finding at a post-mortem examination. There is no specific
treatment for the parasite (Taylor et al 2007c).
Fasciola gigantica is a liver parasite found in tropical and subtropical countries only. It has
a lifecycle similar to that of the common liver fluke Fasciola hepatica and requires a snail
intermediate host to complete its lifecycle. An important snail intermediate host for F.
gigantica is Lymnae radix auricularia which is present in New Zealand (Spencer 2009).
However, the trematode is confined to tropical and subtropical countries with distinct wet
and dry seasons (Asia, Africa, Southern Europe and the USA) and it seems improbable that
it could establish in temperate climate countries such as New Zealand. Diagnosis can be
made by identification of eggs in faeces samples. Treatment is similar to that for F.
hepatica using triclabendazole (Taylor et al 2007a).
Fascioloides magna is a liver fluke of a variety of domestic farm animals. It is
predominantly found in Canada, the USA and Mexico, southwestern Europe and South
Africa. A number of freshwater snails act as intermediate hosts. Diagnosis is made from
clinical signs and faeces examination. In Canada and the Great Lakes area, the parasite is
commonly carried by deer. Cattle become infested when grazing the same pastures as deer.
Treatment and diagnosis are similar to those used for other liver flukes (Taylor et al
2007d).
34.1.4.3. Cestodes
Cestodes of camelids (except Echinococcus granulosus) that do not occur in New Zealand
are:
Monezia benedeni
Thysaniezia spp.
Monezia benedeni is not included in the list of parasites found in New Zealand but
Monezia sp. is listed as occurring in cattle, goats, red deer, fallow deer, alpaca and llama
MAF Biosecurity New Zealand Import risk analysis: Llamas and alpacas from specified countries ● 127