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laura0554
12 Posts |
 Posted - 11/06/2009 : 12:20:09 AM
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Does anyone here have experience with this? My understanding is it is blood born and while the symptoms can be treated with an antibiotic, there is really no cure and it is likely the host will remain a carrier.
I am sad to say a female I just recieved tested positive and is extremely underweight. I have an appt with the vet to see what we can do for this girl. She has a cria at her side, also and I am dreading the results when we run the test on her. I recently read that cria can contract it in utero.......I am hoping that is erroneous information.
So, anyone willing to talk about this- the treatment- prognosis for future. I am not having very good luck this year.
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klay.k
483 Posts |
Posted - 11/06/2009 : 05:18:27 AM
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laura0554, In talking to a number of well versed vets, it's my understanding that Mycoplasma haemolamae previously known as EPE is pretty commonly found throughtout the US herd (Some thoughts say 80%) and stress can cause a "bloom". Stress can be anything from overcrowding to bullying or delivery & lactation.
We have dealt with it and can verify it does appear that it can cross the placental barrier. We monitor weight and body score of everyone. Once diagnosed, we've treated with Redcell to help with the anemia and oxytet (LA 200 or Biomycin) Your vet can give you the dosages. The protocol is also discussed in Dr. Evans manual.
Also, treat as any other blood bourne issue...no shared needles but biting insects are thought to also contribute.
I remember how worried I was when we first discovered it in an agistor's dam that was a first time mom and had been sent away for re-breeding. We got the call that she was dropping weight and didn't look right to the stud farm owner. We had both her and her cria tested - cria clear but dam positive. Her fiber had stress breaks at the skin and she lost her topknot. Treatment started (during pregnancy I might add - after 60 days) and she is fine and has gone on to give the owners 2 more healthy crias.
Yes, this in an ongoing issue but, the antibiotics used are avaiable without a prescription. Kathy
Kathy & Earl Klay
Jefferson Laurel Farm
8181 Havens Road
Blacklick, Ohio 43004
HM (614) 855-9194
CELL (614) 439-6619
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jillmcm
1545 Posts |
Posted - 11/06/2009 : 06:54:31 AM
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Mh is pretty much a chronic maintenance issue that can occasionally become an acute situation which needs treatment. I know of at least one positive animal in my herd, but he has never had an acute episode that required treatment. I just try my best to avoid overcrowding and other stressors to keep the Mh in the background. Kathy is right - the more they test for Mh, the more they find it - many, many alpacas carry this parasite, but do not show any symptoms.
Jill McElderry-Maxwell
Bag End Suri Alpacas of Maine - ¡BESAME!
Benton, ME
(207) 453-0109
bagendsuris@roadrunner.com
http://www.alpacanation.com/bagendsuri.asp
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nyala
2251 Posts |
Posted - 11/06/2009 : 08:17:56 AM
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Hi,
We had a old import dam who milks like a cow develop mastitis right after she birthed and then get really sick with Mycoplasma haemolamae on top of that. She responded well to oxytet and 4 years later has not had another episode. I agree with what everyone else has said, keep stress low and just keep it in mind if an animal is sick that this might rear up and compound the problem.
Ann
D. Andrew Merriwether, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Anthropology and Biology, Binghamton University
and
Ann and Andy Merriwether
Nyala Farm Alpacas,Vestal, NY
www.alpacanation.com/nyalafarm.asp |
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laura0554
12 Posts |
Posted - 11/06/2009 : 09:04:12 AM
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Thank you all for your replies. I am feeling much more positive about this. The dam in question is eating like a horse and we are trying to increase her groceries, gradually. The vet is coming Monday and we'll begin the Oxytet. The cria is a chubby little girl and seems healthy. I failed to mention this dam was also bred before she arrived - whether or not she stays that way remains to be seen. I just want her to be healthy and happy.
Laura
R Half Pint Farm
Spotsylvania, VA |
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pdhmaine
454 Posts |
Posted - 11/07/2009 : 12:26:46 AM
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Laura,
We diagnosed Mh in a young female just before we sent her off the farm to be bred -- routine tests sometimes show interesting things! At the time we were also treating a weanling male for it -- he showed clinical signs (rapid weight loss, & anemia), but we only discovered her anemia when we ran the blood test. Further PCR's diagnosed it in both. We treated both with the LA-200, and back then we added 2 months of Oxy-tet capsules (no longer recommended).
Dr. Susan Tornquist told me that both alpacas would continue to test positive for Mh, so we should keep them in good health without stress, and to monitor them for clinical signs. 4 years later the male has never had any issues -- we gelded him and he is the "grumpy uncle" who keeps the younger males in line. At 9 months, the female ended up being kicked by her dam and breaking her leg. She went to Tufts for a 7-hour surgery involving plates and screws, and a week-long stay followed by stall rest. When she was ready to breed, she got pregnant right away and carried the cria to term, delivering a healthy cria. A few weeks later, after being rebred, we noticed an abscess near the healed incision site, so back to Tufts with cria at side. More surgury to clean out the abscess and remove the hardware (luckily that wasn't involved with the abscess), followed by stall rest. A year later, without having to be rebred, she delivered another healthy cria. She has since been sent off the farm for breedings. Through all of this considerable stress, she has never had a relapse.
My point in outlining all of this anecdotal evidence is simply to assure you that this diagnosis doesn't have to be a huge problem as long as you monitor your alpacas, particularly their weight. Any sudden weight loss demands bloodwork on our farm and we take it from there. So far, we've never had a problem with these two or any others on the farm.
Pam
Pamela Harwood
Longwoods Alpaca Farm, LLC
135 Main Street
Cumberland, ME 04021
pdh@longwoodsalpacas.com
www.longwoodsalpacas.com
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laura0554
12 Posts |
Posted - 11/07/2009 : 09:22:44 AM
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Thank you so much for telling me a positive outcome to a grim diagnosis! I have to admit, I was really bummed when we got the results- I truly thought it was a death sentence, but I am hearing more and more positive reassurances.
Our girl will get the care she needs and I am hopeful we can the weight on her and maybe even see some improvment in her fiber. We'll see how it goes with the pregnancy. Like I said, we are pretty new to this. 
R Half Pint Farm
Spotsylvania, VA |
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LL Alpacas
42 Posts |
Posted - 11/08/2009 : 2:11:22 PM
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I have a dam who presented with shaking her head, ear hanging low, and constant 'talking'. She sounded miserable. Vet thought it was an ear infection and treated for that. It ended up coming back (her behavior). She lost weight, seemed tired and still talked alot. Vet treated her 3 times for an ear infection, so finally she said she didn't know what the problem was and to take her to UC Davis for testing they could do.
UC Davis saw no ear infection, said she was anemic and they tested for micoplasma haemolamae. She was given Nuflor for 4 days. Weeks later the test result came back that she did indeed have M.H. She was then given oxytetracyclin once a day for 5 days.
She gained weight and no more ear/head shaking.
Months later I had the vet test her again for M.H.. The result came back negative. I sent this to my insurance company (Wilkins).
If MH occurs in an insured animal I HIGHLY recommend that you keep them informed. They almost cancelled my insurance on the dam but I was saved because I commented on her 'ear infection' issues way back at policy renewal time.
She's the best dam I have on the farm and delivered a healthy, happy, 24lb cria in the time during her 'ear infection' treatment.
I can't explain why she tests negative for it now if they're supposed to carry it for life.
LL Alpacas
9117 Dillard Rd.
Wilton CA 95693
(916)308-9430 |
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smonat
59 Posts |
Posted - 11/09/2009 : 10:55:03 AM
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LL Alpacas,
Why would the insurance company cancel the coverage on this dam. If I have a healthy animal on the farm and that animal has been insured for a few years then MH surfaced and was diagnosed, the insurance company will then cancel coverage if reported to them??? Or if the animal dies from this, the insurance company will not pay??? I don't get it. Isn't this why we have insurance. I guess I better read the fine print in my policy!!
Sue Monat
Happy Hearts Alpaca Farm
Brimfield, MA |
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gatewayfarm
1104 Posts |
Posted - 11/09/2009 : 11:41:29 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by smonat
LL Alpacas,
Why would the insurance company cancel the coverage on this dam. If I have a healthy animal on the farm and that animal has been insured for a few years then MH surfaced and was diagnosed, the insurance company will then cancel coverage if reported to them
In a word, yes. There is no such thing as a pre-existing condition.
If you have an animal become terminally ill while insured, you best hope it passes on before it is time to renew the policy.
And, all of those who think livestock mortality insurance will prevent loss, read the fine print very closely. This can be a real problem for those that are financing animals (both sellers and buyers) and expect insurance to cover any losses.
Pet peeve of mine. We discovered this "quirk" the hard way I might add.
Gateway Farm
Alpaca, a natural elegance... |
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Mycoplasma haemolamae PCR
