Fascioliasis in Llama, Lama glama, in Andean Endemic Areas: Experimental Transmission Capacity by the High Altitude Snail Vector Galba truncatula and Epidemiological Analysis of Its Reservoir Role

South American camelids are definitive hosts of Fasciola hepatica. However, their capacity to participate in the transmission and epidemiology of fascioliasis has never been appropriately studied. Therefore, an F. hepatica isolate from Argentine llama is for the first time analyzed using Galba truncatula lymnaeids from Bolivia. Experimental follow-up studies included egg embryogenesis, miracidial infection of lymnaeid snails, intramolluscan larval development, cercarial production, chronobiology of cercarial shedding, vector survival to infection, and metacercarial infectivity of mammal host. Shorter prepatent and patent periods were leading to markedly lower cercarial production, shorter cercarial shedding, and a higher negative impact on snail survival. The usually low liver fluke prevalences and intensities and low daily fecal outputs indicate that llamas do not substantially contribute to fascioliasis transmission. The defecating behavior in dung piles far from freshwater collections prevents lymnaeid infection by eggs shed by this camelid. All results suggest the reservoir role of the llama to be negligible and, therefore, no priority within control measures in endemic areas. However, llamas may play a disease-spreading role if used as pack animals in rural areas. In the Northern Bolivian Altiplano human hyperendemic area, neither llamas nor alpacas should be considered for control measures within a One Health action.

Relationships between Body Condition Score (BCS), FAMACHA©-Score and Haematological Parameters in Alpacas (Vicugna pacos), and Llamas (Lama glama) Presented at the Veterinary Clinic

South American camelids (SAC) are being more and more presented at the veterinary Clinics in Germany. A bad nutritional condition, which can be easily categorized using a body condition score (BCS) of the animals, is often not noticed by the owners. Further anaemia is also often only detected in an advanced stage in SAC. Clinical detection of anaemia can be performed by assessing the FAMACHA©-score (FS), that is adapted from small ruminants. So far, there is only little information available about BCS and FS in SAC. In this study, both clinical scores were assessed in alpacas and llamas presented at the veterinary clinic and compared with the haematological parameters from the animals. The data were extracted retrospectively from the animals’ medical records and compared statistically. More than half of the alpacas (60%) and llamas (70%) had a BCS < 3, while 12% of the alpacas and 21% of the llamas had a FS > 2. A decreased BCS was associated with a decrease in haematocrit, haemoglobin, lymphocytes, and eosinophils, as well as an increase in FS and neutrophils. BCS and FS should be assessed regularly in SAC to detect emaciation and anaemia in time.

Characterization of the Physical - Mechanical Properties of Alpaca Fiber (Vicugna Pacos) at the Tunshi Experimental Station

The alpaca is one of the four South American camelids that mainly inhabit the inter-Andean zone of Ecuador. Alpaca fiber is characterized by being a natural, soft and resistant fiber, of which, the fleece is the most valued part. The objective of this research was to evaluate the quality parameters of alpaca fiber in terms of physical-mechanical properties. The research was carried out in the Tunishi Experimental Station, ESPOCH. A descriptive statistic of mean, minimum and maximum range, and separation of means per student was applied. The alpaca with characteristics of Huacaya breed was selected and the shearing was carried out manually to obtain the fleece. Later, the performance of the fleece was evaluated, which was 85.71%. Two categories of fiber were selected: fine and thick. Sixty samples were taken for analysis by stretched and unstretched fiber length. The measurements of unstretched fiber length in cm for the thin and thick fiber were 12.50 cm and 13.52 cm respectively, presenting significant differences (p≤0.05). The measurements of the stretched fiber length in cm were 17.29 cm for fine fiber and 17.27 cm for thick fiber, presenting no significant differences (p≥0.05). The resistance of thread and fabric for fine fiber was 590 N/cm2, and for thick fiber was 2835.5 N/cm2, presenting highly significant differences (p≤0.01). Regarding the percentage of yarn elongation, the values obtained were 19% for fine fiber and 12% for thick fiber, observing highly significant differences (p≤0.01). The thick fiber fabric had a better resistance (2.3 BAR) than the fine fiber fabric (1.7 BAR), with a time of 2.34 s and 1.88 s respectively. The classification of the fiber by its softness did not present significant differences. Finally, regarding the sensory classification, it was established as a soft fiber with 91%. Keywords: alpaca, fleece, fine fiber, thick fiber, fiber properties. Resumen La alpaca es uno de los cuatro camélidos sudamericanos que principalmente habitan en la zona interandina del Ecuador. La fibra de alpaca se caracteriza por ser una fibra natural, suave y resistente; de la cual, el vellón es la parte de la fibra del animal más valorada. El objetivo de esta investigación fue evaluar los parámetros de calidad de fibra de alpaca en cuanto a las propiedades físico - mecánicas. La investigación se la realizó en la Estación Experimental TUNSHI - ESPOCH. Se aplicó una estadística descriptiva de media, rango mínimo y máximo y separación de medias por t estudent. Se seleccionó a la alpaca con características de la raza Huacaya y se realizó la esquila por el método manual para la obtención del vellón. Posteriormente, se evaluó el rendimiento del vellón el cual fue de 85,71%, se seleccionaron dos categorías de fibra fina y gruesa. Sesenta muestras fueron tomadas para su análisis: longitud de mecha estirada y sin estirar. La media de longitud de fibra sin estirar en cm para la fina y gruesa fueron de 12,50 y 13,52 correspondientemente, presentando diferencias significativas (p≤0,05), La media de la longitud en cm de fibra estirada determinó que la fibra fina presentó una media de 17,29 y la fibra gruesa de 17,27 cm, sin presentar diferencias significativas (p≥0,05). La resistencia del hilo y tejido para la fibra fina fue de 590 N/cm2 y para la gruesa fue de 2835,5 N/cm2, presentando diferencias altamente significativas (p≤0,01). Finalmente, en cuanto al porcentaje de elongación de hilo, presentó un 19% para fibra fina y un 12% para gruesa, observándose también diferencias altamente significativas (p≤0,01). El tejido de la fibra gruesa tuvo mejor resistencia (2,3 BAR) que el de la fibra fina (1,7 BAR), con un tiempo de 2,34 s y 1,88 s respectivamente. La clasificación de la fibra por su suavidad, no presentó diferencias significativas. En cuanto a la clasificación sensorial se la ubico como una fibra suave con el 91%. Palabras clave: alpaca, vellón, fibra fina, fibra gruesa, propiedades de la fibra.