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

necessarily be competent vectors, and each species of Ehrlichia is transmitted by a single
genus of competent ticks only (Sumption & Scott 2004). Therefore, it seems likely that the
competent vectors of A. phagocytophilum are Ixodes spp. and that Haemaphysalis spp. are
not competent vectors.
Antibody can be detected by immunofluorescent antibody tests (Petrovec et al 2002;
Zeman et al 2004). Organisms can be detected by microscopic examination of bloodsmears
or by conventional or real time PCR tests (Ahrens et al 2003; Courtney & Massung 2003;
Courtney et al 2004; Hulinska et al 2004).
A single case of A. phagocytophilum infection has been described in a llama. In this case
the vector was apparently Ixodes pacificus (Barlough et al 1997a). Humans and domestic
animals are regarded as largely accidental hosts of an organism that is maintained in
wildlife hosts (McQuiston et al 2003). Therefore, this case is assumed to be a very rare
incident of disease in an accidental host.
19.1.5. Hazard identification conclusion
Ehrlichiosis caused by A. phagocytophilum in camelids is considered to be a rare disease in
an accidental host. In addition, the main vectors for the organism are Ixodes spp. ticks that
are not present in New Zealand. Therefore, A. phagocytophilum is not considered to be a
hazard in the commodity.
References
References marked * were sighted as abstracts in electronic data-bases.
Ahrens MQ, Liddell AM, Beuning G, Gaudreault-Keener M, Summer JW, Comer JA, Buller RS, Storch
GA (2003). Detection of Ehrlichia sp. in the blood of white tailed deer in Missouri by PCR assay and
serological analysis. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 41(3), 1263-5.
Alberdi MP, Walker AR, Paxton EA, Sumption KJ (1998). Natural prevalence of infection with Ehrlichia
(Cytoecetes) phagocytophila of Ixodes ricinus ticks in Scotland. Veterinary Parasitology, 78(3), 203-13.*
Anonymous (undated). Introduction to Ehrlicha spp. http://riki-lb1.vet.ohiostate.edu/ehrlichia/background.php,
downloaded 9/9/2009.
Barlough JE, Madigan JE, Turoff DR, Clover JR, Shelly SM, Dumler JS (1997a). An Ehrlichia strain from
a llama (Lama glama) and llama-associated ticks (Ixodes pacificus). Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 35(4),
1005-7.
Barlough JE, Madigan JE, Kramer VL, Glover JR, Hui LT, Webb JP, Vredevoe Lk (1997b). Ehrlichia
phagocytophilia genogroup rickettsiae in ixodid ticks from California collected in 1995 and 1996. Journal of
Clinical Microbiology, 35(8), 2018-21.
Courtney JW, Kostelnik LM, Zeidner NS, Massung RF (2004). Multiplex real-time PCR for detection of
Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Borrelia burgdorferi. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 42(7), 3164-8.
Courtney JW, Massung RF (2003). Multiplex Taqman PCR assay for rapid detection of Anaplasma
phagocytophila and Borrelia burgdorferi. Annals of the New York Academy of Science, 990, 369-70.*
MAF Biosecurity New Zealand Import risk analysis: Llamas and alpacas from specified countries ● 67