Outbreak of diarrhea among preweaning alpacas (Vicugna pacos) in the southern Peruvian highland

Introduction: Infections, particularly diarrheal infections, are a major cause of neonatal death in South American camelids. The aim of this study was to identify the pathogens that could have caused the recent diarrhea outbreak among the alpacas in Silli, Cusco, located in the southern Peruvian hig...

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Main Authors: Miguel Rojas, Alberto Manchego, Camila B Rocha, Luz Alba Fornells, Raquel C Silva, Gabriella S Mendes, Helver G Dias, Nieves Sandoval, Danilo Pezo, Norma Santos
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries 2016-03-01
Series:Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
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Online Access:https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/7398
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author Miguel Rojas
Alberto Manchego
Camila B Rocha
Luz Alba Fornells
Raquel C Silva
Gabriella S Mendes
Helver G Dias
Nieves Sandoval
Danilo Pezo
Norma Santos
author_facet Miguel Rojas
Alberto Manchego
Camila B Rocha
Luz Alba Fornells
Raquel C Silva
Gabriella S Mendes
Helver G Dias
Nieves Sandoval
Danilo Pezo
Norma Santos
author_sort Miguel Rojas
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Infections, particularly diarrheal infections, are a major cause of neonatal death in South American camelids. The aim of this study was to identify the pathogens that could have caused the recent diarrhea outbreak among the alpacas in Silli, Cusco, located in the southern Peruvian highland. Methodology: Spleen, kidney, and intestine tissue along with fecal and intestinal lavage samples were obtained from 50 one- to five-week-old alpacas and analyzed for the presence of parasites, bacteria, and viruses. Results: Laboratory testing of the 50 crias included in this study revealed that 80% were infected with Eimeria spp., 40% with coronavirus, 34% with E. coli, 32% with rotavirus, 22% with Clostridium spp., and 20% with Cryptosporidium spp. Of these 50 alpaca crias, 20 presented with a single infection (19 positive for Eimeria spp. and 1 positive for rotavirus). Co-infections with up to four pathogens occurred in 60% of the samples. The significance of such infections is not clear, but it is noteworthy that the animals suffering from necrotic and/or hemorrhagic enteritis presented with quadruple infections. It is likely that co-infections increase the severity of the disease. Conclusions: These data show that multiple pathogens circulate among young alpaca crias and could be associated with diarrheal disease in these animals. The findings from this study warrant the provision of subsidies for future assessment of the potential economic impact of these infections on the productivity of the Peruvian alpaca industry.
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spelling doaj-art-cbd13d927bd4408b99325cf2a4f3af272025-08-20T03:52:38ZengThe Journal of Infection in Developing CountriesJournal of Infection in Developing Countries1972-26802016-03-01100310.3855/jidc.7398Outbreak of diarrhea among preweaning alpacas (Vicugna pacos) in the southern Peruvian highlandMiguel Rojas0Alberto Manchego1Camila B Rocha2Luz Alba Fornells3Raquel C Silva4Gabriella S Mendes5Helver G Dias6Nieves Sandoval7Danilo Pezo8Norma Santos9Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilLaboratorio de Microbiologia y Parasitologia, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, (FMV/UNMSM), Lima, PerúInstituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilInstituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilInstituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilInstituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilInstituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilLaboratorio de Histología, Embriología y Patología Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, (FMV/UNMSM), Lima, PerúInstituto Veterinario de Investigaciones Tropicales y de Altura (IVITA), Cuzco, PerúInstituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, BrazilIntroduction: Infections, particularly diarrheal infections, are a major cause of neonatal death in South American camelids. The aim of this study was to identify the pathogens that could have caused the recent diarrhea outbreak among the alpacas in Silli, Cusco, located in the southern Peruvian highland. Methodology: Spleen, kidney, and intestine tissue along with fecal and intestinal lavage samples were obtained from 50 one- to five-week-old alpacas and analyzed for the presence of parasites, bacteria, and viruses. Results: Laboratory testing of the 50 crias included in this study revealed that 80% were infected with Eimeria spp., 40% with coronavirus, 34% with E. coli, 32% with rotavirus, 22% with Clostridium spp., and 20% with Cryptosporidium spp. Of these 50 alpaca crias, 20 presented with a single infection (19 positive for Eimeria spp. and 1 positive for rotavirus). Co-infections with up to four pathogens occurred in 60% of the samples. The significance of such infections is not clear, but it is noteworthy that the animals suffering from necrotic and/or hemorrhagic enteritis presented with quadruple infections. It is likely that co-infections increase the severity of the disease. Conclusions: These data show that multiple pathogens circulate among young alpaca crias and could be associated with diarrheal disease in these animals. The findings from this study warrant the provision of subsidies for future assessment of the potential economic impact of these infections on the productivity of the Peruvian alpaca industry. https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/7398alpacasbacteriadiarrheaPeruprotozoavirus
spellingShingle Miguel Rojas
Alberto Manchego
Camila B Rocha
Luz Alba Fornells
Raquel C Silva
Gabriella S Mendes
Helver G Dias
Nieves Sandoval
Danilo Pezo
Norma Santos
Outbreak of diarrhea among preweaning alpacas (Vicugna pacos) in the southern Peruvian highland
Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
alpacas
bacteria
diarrhea
Peru
protozoa
virus
title Outbreak of diarrhea among preweaning alpacas (Vicugna pacos) in the southern Peruvian highland
title_full Outbreak of diarrhea among preweaning alpacas (Vicugna pacos) in the southern Peruvian highland
title_fullStr Outbreak of diarrhea among preweaning alpacas (Vicugna pacos) in the southern Peruvian highland
title_full_unstemmed Outbreak of diarrhea among preweaning alpacas (Vicugna pacos) in the southern Peruvian highland
title_short Outbreak of diarrhea among preweaning alpacas (Vicugna pacos) in the southern Peruvian highland
title_sort outbreak of diarrhea among preweaning alpacas vicugna pacos in the southern peruvian highland
topic alpacas
bacteria
diarrhea
Peru
protozoa
virus
url https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/7398
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