[Me]

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.

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 tandem
2. I am too lazy to look up the answers and look clever
3. 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

[waterbuffalofarmer]

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?

I think people who milk sheep and make cheese or sell it have to TB test their sheep, I have a friend who had to do this. I never knew they could get TB but apparently they do. 

[Thyme]

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.

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 tandem
2. I am too lazy to look up the answers and look clever
3. 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

Thanks.  That says the culture test is the gold standard but is highly specific and not very sensitive.  But now I'm wondering what is the definition of "having TB" anyway!  The vaccine research I posted earlier (different thread) considered animals not to have TB if the PM and culture test were negative.  Science, so messy when you look close 

[SallyintNorth]

Lots of information on Alpaca TB at: www.alpacatb.com

That website is showing 86 herds of camelids in England and Wales tested positive by the end of 2014   

[waterbuffalofarmer]

The thing with TB is when they test them and it shows positive it could just be a skin reaction, but they cannot take that risk just in case. Also TB develops over a long time period, so they cannot afford to wait and see in case other animals get infected.

[Cocker]

Lots of information on Alpaca TB at: www.alpacatb.com

That 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.

[SallyintNorth]

Lots of information on Alpaca TB at: www.alpacatb.com

That 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.

Ah    Thanks for the explanation! 

[nutterly_uts]

Thanks for all the info

I've crossed 'paca off the list as friend has just had his first ever TB reactor and so anything that makes this journey possible again is outta here..