<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<sec id="j_jvetres-2022-0012_s_005">
<h3>Introduction</h3>
<p>The study highlights the transboundary nature of tuberculosis (TB) in alpacas and the failure of current ante-mortem testing protocols (the tuberculin skin and Enferplex Camelid TB tests) to identify TB-free alpaca herds and individuals for export. Our research and the available literature indicate that the alpaca (<italic>Vicugna pacos</italic>) is extremely susceptible to <italic>Mycobacterium bovis</italic> infection, and that testing periodicity fails to take into account that animals do not manifest disease symptoms for a long time. The skin test failed to identify <italic>Mycobacterium bovis</italic> infection in two alpacas prior to their movement from the UK to Poland. The animals were purchased by a breeding centre in Poland, and were then shown at an international animal exhibition. The last owner of the alpacas before their deaths from TB bought the infected animals unwittingly in order to run rehabilitation activities with disabled children on his farm.</p></sec>
<sec id="j_jvetres-2022-0012_s_006">
<h3>Material and Methods</h3>
<p>Thoracic lymph node, lung and liver tissue samples obtained at necropsy were examined histopathologically after Ziehl–Neelsen staining. Tissue samples were homogenised and mycobacteria present there were cultured on Stonebrink’s medium during a 6-week incubation. A commercial test using polymorphism of the chromosomal direct repeat region provided species identification and additional identification was by spacer oligonucleotide typing and mycobacteria interspersed repetitive unit–variable number tandem repeat analysis with a gel electrophoresis protocol.</p></sec>
<sec id="j_jvetres-2022-0012_s_007">
<h3>Results</h3>
<p>The microbiological examination confirmed multiorgan TB caused by the SB0666 spoligotype of <italic>Mycobacterium bovis</italic>.</p></sec>
<sec id="j_jvetres-2022-0012_s_008">
<h3>Conclusion</h3>
<p>Due to the suboptimal performance of current diagnostic tests for TB in alpacas, there is a risk that infected animals may be moved unwittingly. A risk of TB spread associated with the international movement of alpacas is implied by this study.</p></sec>
</abstract>

Introduction
The study highlights the transboundary nature of tuberculosis (TB) in alpacas and the failure of current ante-mortem testing protocols (the tuberculin skin and Enferplex Camelid TB tests) to identify TB-free alpaca herds and individuals for export. Our research and the available literature indicate that the alpaca (Vicugna pacos) is extremely susceptible to Mycobacterium bovis infection, and that testing periodicity fails to take into account that animals do not manifest disease symptoms for a long time. The skin test failed to identify Mycobacterium bovis infection in two alpacas prior to their movement from the UK to Poland. The animals were purchased by a breeding centre in Poland, and were then shown at an international animal exhibition. The last owner of the alpacas before their deaths from TB bought the infected animals unwittingly in order to run rehabilitation activities with disabled children on his farm.

Material and Methods
Thoracic lymph node, lung and liver tissue samples obtained at necropsy were examined histopathologically after Ziehl–Neelsen staining. Tissue samples were homogenised and mycobacteria present there were cultured on Stonebrink’s medium during a 6-week incubation. A commercial test using polymorphism of the chromosomal direct repeat region provided species identification and additional identification was by spacer oligonucleotide typing and mycobacteria interspersed repetitive unit–variable number tandem repeat analysis with a gel electrophoresis protocol.

Results
The microbiological examination confirmed multiorgan TB caused by the SB0666 spoligotype of Mycobacterium bovis.

Conclusion
Due to the suboptimal performance of current diagnostic tests for TB in alpacas, there is a risk that infected animals may be moved unwittingly. A risk of TB spread associated with the international movement of alpacas is implied by this study.

The potential risk of international spread of <italic>Mycobacterium bovis</italic> associated with movement of alpacas

Journal of Veterinary Research

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

The potential risk of international spread of  associated with movement of alpacas

Introduction
The study highlights the transboundary nature of tuberculosis (TB) in alpacas and the failure of current ante-mortem testing protocols (the...

The potential risk of international spread of Mycobacterium bovis associated with movement of alpacas

Published Online: Mar 25, 2022

Page range: 53 - 59

Received: Jan 12, 2022

Accepted: Mar 01, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jvetres-2022-0012

Keywords
alpaca, tuberculin skin test, Enferplex Camelid TB test,

© 2022 M. Krajewska-Wędzina et al. published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

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The potential risk of international spread of Mycobacterium bovis associated with movement of alpacas

Published Online: Mar 25, 2022

Page range: 53 - 59

Received: Jan 12, 2022

Accepted: Mar 01, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jvetres-2022-0012

Keywordsalpaca, tuberculin skin test, Enferplex Camelid TB test,

© 2022 M. Krajewska-Wędzina et al. published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Fig. 1

Fig. 2

Fig. 3

Fig. 4

Fig. 5

Fig. 6

Keywords
alpaca, tuberculin skin test, Enferplex Camelid TB test,