Fecal shedding of Giardia duodenalis, Cryptosporidium parvum, Salmonella organisms, and Escherichia coli O157 : H7 from llamas in California

Citation
Fc. Rulofson et al., Fecal shedding of Giardia duodenalis, Cryptosporidium parvum, Salmonella organisms, and Escherichia coli O157 : H7 from llamas in California, AM J VET RE, 62(4), 2001, pp. 637-642
Citations number
23
Categorie Soggetti
Veterinary Medicine/Animal Health
Journal title
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY RESEARCH
ISSN journal
00029645 → ACNP
Volume
62
Issue
4
Year of publication
2001
Pages
637 - 642
Database
ISI
SICI code
0002-9645(200104)62:4<637:FSOGDC>2.0.ZU;2-M
Abstract
Objective-To evaluate fecal shedding of Giardia duodenalis, Cryptosporidium parvum, Salmonella organisms, and Escherichia coli O157:H7 from ilamas in California with respect to host factors and management practices. Animals-354 Ilamas from 33 facilities. Procedure-Fecal specimens were collected and examined for G duodenalis and C parvum by means of immunofluorescent microscopy. Salmonella organisms wer e cultured by placing feces into selenite enrichment broth followed by sele ctive media. Escherichia coli O157:H7 was cultured by use of modified trypt ocase soy broth followed by sorbitol MacConkey agar, with suspect colonies confirmed by means of immunofluorescent microscopy. Results-12 of 354 fecal specimens (3.4%) had G duodenalis cysts. Younger Il amas (crias) were more likely to be shedding cysts, compared with older Ila mas. Farm-level factors that increased the risk of shedding were large numb ers of yearlings on the property (> 10), smaller pen sizes, large numbers o f crias born during the previous year (> 10), and large pen or pasture popu lations (> 20). None of the 354 fecal specimens had C parvum oocysts. Seven ty-six (from 7 facilities) and 192 (from 22 facilities) Ilamas were tested for Salmonella organisms and E coli O157:H7, respectively. All fecal specim ens had negative results for these bacteria. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Shedding of G duodenalis was primarily l imited to crias 1 to 4 months old. Llamas from properties with large number s of crias born in the previous year, resulting in large numbers of yearlin gs in the current year, were at greater risk of infection. In addition, hou sing Ilamas in smaller pens or pastures and managing Ilamas and crias in la rge groups also increased the risk of G duodenalis shedding.