Oral and Poster Abstracts

2 Institute for Veterinary Pathology, Centre for Fish and Wildlife
Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Berne, Switzerland
3 Chembio Diagnostic Systems, Inc., 3661 Horseblock Road, Medford,
New York 11763, United States
Objectives of study: The goal of the study was to describe the clinical
findings, clinicopathologic abnormalities, serological tests, diagnostic
imaging findings and necropsy results in South American Camelids
(SAC) infected with Mycobacterium microti, a member of the M.
tuberculosis complex.
Materials and Methods: The records of 10 animals (9 llamas and 1
alpaca; aged 4 to 18 years) from 4 different herds with a history of wasting
and weakness admitted to the Clinic for Ruminants and / or the Institute
for Animal Pathology within a timeframe of 6 years were reviewed.
Results: Clinical signs were limited to weight loss, recumbency and
anorexia in late stages of the disease. The single comparative
intradermal tuberculin test with bovine protein purified derivate (PPD)
and avian PPD was negative in all animals. No consistent hematologic
abnormalities were identified. Animals that were tested serologically
positive (multiantigen print immunoassay, lateral-flow-based rapid
test) were examined in detail with abdominal and thoracal ultrasound
and thorax radiology. Abnormal findings such as enlarged mediastinal,
mesenterial and /or hepatic lymph nodes were seen by ultrasound only
in advanced cases. The infection was confirmed at necropsy in all
animals by bacteriological culture and / or spoligotyping.
Conclusions: An infection caused by M. microti should be considered
a differential diagnosis in chronic debilitating diseases with or without
respiratory signs in SAC. However, the clinical diagnosis remains
challenging particularly in the early stages of the infection.
Key words: lama, alpaca, tuberculosis, Mycobacterium microti
140 Point Prevalence of Bacterial and Protozoal Intestinal
Pathogens in Suckling Camel Calves in Northern Kenya
I. Gluecks 1 , M. Younan 2 , S. Bornstein 3 , C. Ewers 4 , W. Mueller 5
1 Veterinaires Sans Frontieres Suisse, Kenya Programs, Nairobi,
Kenya, Kenya Coast Republic
2 Veterinaires sans Frontieres Germany, Somalia Program, Nairobi,
Kenya, Kenya Coast Republic
3 National Veterinary University of Agricultural Science, Department
of Parasitology, Uppsala, Sweden, Sweden
4 Veterinary Faculty, Free University Berlin, Institute for
Microbiology and Epizootics, Berlin, Germany
5 Veterinary Faculty, Free University Berlin, Institute for Animal and
Environmental Hygiene, Berlin, Germany
Objective of the study: This study was conducted from 2002 to 2004 in
Northern Kenya in order to investigate the prevalence of bacterial and
protozoal intestinal pathogens in camel calves up to 12 weeks of age.
Material and Methods: A point prevalence study was conducted to
describe the existing intestinal pathogens according to age groups,
health status and to compare their occurrence between two
management systems. From each camel calf between birth and 12
weeks of age belonging either to ranch (n=157) or pastoralists (n=72)
herds a faecal sample and rectal swab was taken for bacteriological and
parasitological analysis.
Results: of the 229 individual camel calves sampled in both management
systems, 67.7% were healthy, 23.1% exhibiting diarrhoea, 6.6%
convalescent and 2.2% dead. A higher percentage of camel calves
suffering from diarrhoea were found in pastoralist herds (31.9%) as
compared to ranch herds (19.2%). There was a peak of camel calves
suffering from diarrhoea within the second and third week of age.
Isospora sp. and Strongyloides sp. were excreted in 6.6% while only in
4.6% Strongyle sp. eggs were excreted. Isospora sp. excretion was more
prevalent in pastoralist herds (12.9%) as compared to ranch herds (3.7%).
Excretion of Isospora sp. was most prevalent from the second till seventh
week of age, no shedding was diagnosed at an older age. Klebsiella
pneumoniae was isolated in 26.9% (n=119), Salmonella sp. in 19.1%
(n=226), and E. coli in 97.5% (n=200) of calves sampled. The point
prevalences of K. pneumoniae and Salmonella sp. were particularly high
in the first three weeks of age. Sequence analysis of the SSU rRNA gene
and ITS 1 confirmed that the Isospora sp. isolates from this study
belonged to the species Isospora orlovi. Out of 32 K. pneumoniae positive
camel calves 18 different capsular antigens types were identified.
Salmonella bovismorbificans was the most common serotype (32.6%),
followed by S. butantan (21.5%), S. typhimurium (11.1%), S. kiambu
(9.0%) and S. muenchen (7.6%). In 78 of the E. coli isolates virulence-
associated genes were detected: eae (13.7%), astA (10.6%), hlyEHEC
(4.3%) and stx (2.0%). None was positive for elt Ia/Ib and est Ia/Ib.
Conclusion: The importance of the different pathogens in the health
status of the camel calf and the differences occurring between the two
management systems are discussed.
Key words: camels, calves, diarrhoea, pastoralism, Kenya
141 Mastitis in Camels in Somalia and North Kenya
I. Gluecks
Veterinaires sans Frontieres Germany, Somalia Program, Nairobi,
Kenya, Kenya Coast Republic
In semiarid regions of the Greater Horn of Africa, in particular North
Kenya and Somalia, camels are the most important dairy animal for
pastoralists and play an important role in food security of nomadic
households. In semiarid environments camels produce 2.5 times more
milk than cows and are less dependent on water sources. Information
on prevalence and importance of mastitis in pastoralist camels is very
limited and control concepts to limit the impact of mastitis on milk
production of camels do not exist. Several field studies were
undertaken in camels in Somalia and North Kenya to obtain baseline
data on mastitis prevalence and on applicable mastitis management
concepts. Camel herds were visited once during the morning milking.
Lactating camels were examined clinically, tested by California
Mastitis Test and sampled individually. Milk was taken in an
uninterrupted cold-chain to an ISO-certified private laboratory in
Nairobi (Analabs Ltd.) where bacteriological cultures for the two most
important infectious mastitis pathogens (Streptococcus agalactiae,
Staphylococcus aureus) were carried out. Due to security constraints in
Somalia access to camel herds is very limited. In order to gain an
insight into the prevalence of infectious mastitis pathogens raw camel
milk sold on local markets was also sampled and
analysed. Streptococcus agalactiae was found in 70% of camel milk
container sampled at urban Somali milk markets and was present in 5
of 10 examined lactating camel herds. 42% of udders tested in two
herds were CMT-positive and 34% of these were infected by
Staphylococcus aureus. In North Kenya loss of one or more quarter
was seen in 8% of 207 camels examined individually and the traditional
practice of teat tying was identified as one contributing factor. Camel
owners mostly focus on the few clinical mastitis cases but are unaware
of widespread subclinical intramammary udder infections. Reduction
of the economically most important infectious mastitis pathogens
(Streptococcus agalactiae and Staphylococcus aureus) in camel herds
is desirable but no treatment or control concepts have been tested in
lactating camels so far. Unlike in cattle a healthy nasopharyngeal
carrier state for Streptococcus agalactiae exists in camels, which raises
doubts about success of eradication attempts. Constraints to mastitis
treatment and management options to reduce the prevalence of
subclinical mastitis in pastoralist camels are discussed.
Key words: mastitis, camels, Somalia, Kenya
142 Bilateral Surgical Fracture Repair in an Alpaca
J. Declercq 1 , G. Vertenten 1 , L. Devisscher 1 , V. Barberet 2 ,
F. Gasthuys 1 , P. Verleyen 2 , A. Martens 1
1 Faculty of Veterinary Medicine - University of Ghent, Department of
Surgery and Anaesthesiology of Domestic Animals, Merelbeke,
Belgium
2 Faculty of Veterinary Medicine - University of Ghent, Department of
Medical Imaging of Domestic Animals, Merelbeke, Belgium
Introduction: Fractures represent one of the most common
orthopaedic disorders in camelids. Although they are considered
excellent patients for treatment of orthopaedic injury, fracture
management can be an interesting challenge for veterinary surgeons.
Case history, clinical findings and treatment: A 2-month old female
alpaca, weighing 17 kg, was referred with an acute, non-weight
bearing, right forelimb lameness. A closed, comminuted, non-articular,
displaced, oblique fracture of the proximal radius and ulna with a
dorsolateral butterfly fragment of the radius was diagnosed on
radiographs. Ceftiofur sodium and carprofen were administered
preoperatively and continued for 12 days. After sedation and induction,
anaesthesia was maintained with isoflurane in oxygen. Methadone was
administered during surgery and continued for 5 days (q 6h). During
open reduction of the fracture, the butterfly fragment was fixed using
2.7mm cortical screws with lag screw technique. Application of a
Camelids 145