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

� Although quarantine is not suitable as a means of preventing the introduction of the
organism, it is useful in preventing the introduction of ticks that could be carrying
the organism.
� Testing while in quarantine could be used to ensure that animals in the incubation
period are not imported. The Manual lists the CFT as a suitable alternative test
when screening animals for importation.
� There are no suitable vaccines or treatments.
� Economic impacts of introduction are likely to be minimal.
� Introduction could result in sporadic cases of severe human disease.
� There is no chapter on Q fever in the Code.
One or a combination of the following measures could be considered in order to effectively
manage the risks.
1. Animals to be imported could be tested with a serological test such as the CFT with
negative results within 7 days of shipment.
N.B. This measure would not exclude the entry of animals that are incubating
the disease when tested.
2. Animals to be imported could be isolated in tick-free premises and maintained tickfree
as specified in the tick section for at least 30 days and tested with a serological
test with negative results within 7 days of shipment.
N.B. This measure would ensure that animals do not become infected by ticks
while in quarantine and ensures that if an animal were to be incubating the
disease when introduced into quarantine it would be likely to be detected by the
serological test.
3. Animals could be isolated and maintained tick-free as described above and tested
twice with an interval of 3 weeks while in PEQ with a serological test with negative
results.
References
References marked * were sighted as abstracts in electronic data-bases.
Behymer D, Riemann HP (1989). Coxiella burnetii infection (Q fever). Journal of the American Veterinary
Medical Association, 194, 764-7.
Hatchette T, Campbell N, Hudson R, Raoult D, Marrie TJ (2003). Natural history of Q fever in goats.
Vector Borne Zoonotic Diseases, 3(1), 11-5.*
Hawker Jl, Ayres JG, Blair L (1998). A large outbreak of Q fever in the West Midlands, a windborne spread
to a metropolitan area? Communicable Diseases and Public Health, 1(3), 180-7.*
Jensenius M, Maeland A, Kvale D, Farstad IN, Vene S, Bruu AL (1997). Q-fever imported into Norway.
Tidsskrift for den Norske laegeforening, 117(27), 3937-40.
MAF Biosecurity New Zealand Import risk analysis: Llamas and alpacas from specified countries ● 87