Plenty of discussion going on in the alpaca community right now about the reporting and control of infectious diseases especially at alpaca shows. here are some of the ideas that we all need to mull over.

The problem(s):

1. Spread of infectious disease (BVD, upper respiratory, diarrhea, etc.) through various sources:
Shows & Events
Transport
Vet Hospital stays
Ranch visitors, Ranch events
Incoming alpacas for boarding or breeding

a. Lack of knowledge about identifying disease outbreak and understanding how a particular disease is transmitted.
1st Snots, now “Splots”.

b. Lack of science regarding causes/sources of infectious disease affecting alpacas.

c. Lack of Medical Alert System.

Possible Solutions:
(Remember this is brainstorming stage….all ideas are OK to state, but all will not be OK in the final analysis to implement.)

The following ideas were derived from shared emails and this process is still in progress…..

1.Understanding Cause:

Pin pointing origin.

This may be next to impossible, but some detective minded researcher might delve into tracking outbreaks.

Determining carriers.

Wandering small animals - (pets, guardian dogs, birds, wild critters) with access to pens and pastures.
Humans - via feet, hands, clothing, tools.
Water – drinking, washing
Airborne. - Wind and one suggestion was: fans blowing at shows.

2.Having all shows donate some of their profits to ARF for research on improving show health.

3.Setting standard for quarantine and isolation at all shows as part of AOBA Show Rules.

•Once several trailers arrive showing evidence of infection, begin Medical Alert process and even shut down show, since some arriving animals, like at IAO, were ill but not showing signs yet. Don’t assume simple stress. Do assume infection.
•Have off site quarantine areas prepared in advance. If on site, screened, with signs alerting the public…made off limits.
•Establish standard and strict bio security measures for all vet checks.
•Don’t allow animals to enter show after vet check has closed.

4.Education for show attendees on bio security measures used by show and to be used by all participants.

5.Create list of recommended show participant first aide kit contents for alleviating stress symptoms.

6.Link all vets used by our members, so that they can confer with each other directly during an outbreak. Name, phone, email. We can create the network for them.

7.Show vets to have full arsenal of meds available, plus access to our vet network.

8.Shows to include at least one herd maintenance supply vendor at each show….or info available in show program noting where closest farm supply store is located.

9.Check water at venues and consider decontamination of site from prior use by other species.

10.Last two shows to determine and then share number and general locations of farms/ranches affected by latest outbreak, which began after SWRAZ, to determine the extent and timing of the infection in our regional herds.

11.Ongoing education of show administration, vets, judges, owners and the public for bio-security measures to implement in order to protect the health and well being of our alpaca population, not to mention our pocket books.

12.Not scheduling back to back shows in same area…leaving at least two weeks in between dates to allow time for any infection to be caught and contained. Some animals got ill early after AZ and scratched ahead of IAO, others didn’t show signs of illness until they had arrived at the show and then others got the problem after IAO. Show management needs to take appropriate action when participants begin cancelling due to illness, even if only day before others are set to arrive.)