We provide help, support and advice for smallholders and aspiring smallholders
More about us / Contact us
Sign-in / Register
You are here » Home » The Accidental Smallholder Forum » Livestock » Camelids » Alpaca and TB (and other animals)
Quote from: Me on June 13, 2015, 01:39:31 pmPM is not reliable as a test for Tb as it is crude, a man slices up the animal looking for Tb lesions. If the Tb is not advanced and lesions are small they may be missed. Just because it isn't seen does not mean the animal is clear. Herds on 60 day tests for eg. rarely do they find lesions at PM as reactors are removed every two months - I wonder why they look once Tb has been confirmed in one animal. It just confuses people. What about the culture test after PM? Is that more reliable, or hit or miss depending on where they cultured from?
PM is not reliable as a test for Tb as it is crude, a man slices up the animal looking for Tb lesions. If the Tb is not advanced and lesions are small they may be missed. Just because it isn't seen does not mean the animal is clear. Herds on 60 day tests for eg. rarely do they find lesions at PM as reactors are removed every two months - I wonder why they look once Tb has been confirmed in one animal. It just confuses people.
I hope this isn't a pandora's box! I am trying to get this sorted in my head but I don't know where to start so any info please!I understand that Alpaca can carry TB, and that cattle owners need to test for TB. Do sheep owners? I have a feeling that the skin test in alpaca doesn't work a lot of the time, so is it possible to screen alpaca for TB, and also is there any form of vaccine they can be given?Is it possible to keep alpaca on the same area as cattle? Not the same fields, but on the same holding? What about sharing fields with sheep? Is there any thing that can be done to minimise the TB risk or does it remain a bit of a gamble?
Quote from: Thyme on June 13, 2015, 02:19:01 pmQuote from: Me on June 13, 2015, 01:39:31 pmPM is not reliable as a test for Tb as it is crude, a man slices up the animal looking for Tb lesions. If the Tb is not advanced and lesions are small they may be missed. Just because it isn't seen does not mean the animal is clear. Herds on 60 day tests for eg. rarely do they find lesions at PM as reactors are removed every two months - I wonder why they look once Tb has been confirmed in one animal. It just confuses people. What about the culture test after PM? Is that more reliable, or hit or miss depending on where they cultured from?So, 1. I can't tell you off the top of my head how sensitive (likely to find tb if it is there) and specific (how likely it is to tell you tb is there when it is not) the tests are alone and used in tandem2. I am too lazy to look up the answers and look clever3. This seems to have some answers but I am not sure as too lazy to read it all through - enjoy! 4. But its just lifted from tinternet so cannot say it is accurate http://www.dardni.gov.uk/afbi-literature-review-tb-review-diagnostic-tests-cattle.pdf
Lots of information on Alpaca TB at: www.alpacatb.com
Quote from: Cocker on June 13, 2015, 06:29:36 pmLots of information on Alpaca TB at: www.alpacatb.comThat website is showing 86 herds of camelids in England and Wales tested positive by the end of 2014
Quote from: SallyintNorth on June 13, 2015, 10:22:16 pmQuote from: Cocker on June 13, 2015, 06:29:36 pmLots of information on Alpaca TB at: www.alpacatb.comThat website is showing 86 herds of camelids in England and Wales tested positive by the end of 2014 That is since 1999. 7 of those were in 2014.
SMF © 2011, Simple Machines
© The Accidental Smallholder Ltd 2003-2024. All rights reserved.
Design by Furness Internet
Site developed by Champion IS