27 Camelid Lecture 2: Gastrointestinal

1. Poor nutrition

2. Poor absorption (parasites, Johnes, IBD)

3. Chronic disease (Infections, Neoplasia)

But also dental disease, GI ulceration, Mycoplasma haemolama, and BVDV

What are the most common causes of weight loss in camelids?

HOT: Haemonchus, Ostertagia (Teladorsagia), Trichostrongylus

What are the most common trichostrongyle type GI parasites in camelids?

Coccidia, Trichuris (whipworm), Nematodirus

Besides the trichostronyle type GI parasites, what other GI parasites can be found in camelids?

Eimeria macusaniensis

TREATMENT: Ponazuril

What is the name of the highly pathogenic GI parasite in camelids that can cause diarrhea, weight loss, hypoproteinemia, dehydration, and death? How do you treat?

c. trichuris (whipworm) because it causes colitis & diarrhea

Which is considered to be VERY significant in camels:

a. coccidia

b. nematodirus

c. trichuris (whipworm)

Eimeria macusaniensis = must do fecal float

Fecal egg count does not show WHICH parasite? Meaning you have to do what to diagnose?

a. vaccine (for haemonchus)

b. bioworm

d. antihelminthics

e. copper oxide

Select which of the following you can use for parasite control in camelids:

a. vaccine

b. bioworm

c. zinc oxide

d. antihelminthics

e. copper oxide

f. penicillamine

Protein energy malnutrition

WHO ELSE: late pregnant females, lactating females, young/growing animals

A camelid with poor quality forage presents with weight loss and hypothermia with normal appetite. The animal is young and growing and it is early January. What do you think is happening? What other animals in the herd do you think will also be affected if they are on the same feed?

Persistently infected

What kind of camelids infected with BVDV tend to have a more grave prognosis, presenting with poor weight gain, diarrhea, intermittent illness, and pneumonia?

Mycoplasma haemolamae

Dx: blood smear & PCR (gold standard)

TREATMENT = oxytetracycline (NOT ORAL)

A camelid presents with weight loss and anemia. This is seen. What do you think is going on, how do you diagnose, and what do you treat with since the animal is clinical?

Lymphoma

What is the most common cancer seen in new world camelids?

PCR

What is the gold standard diagnosis for Mycoplasma hemolamae?

1. Stress

2. high grain diet

3. NSAIDs

What predisposes camelids to develop gastric ulceration?

Omeprazole OR pantoprazole

• NOTE: gastric ulcers are a common necropsy finding

If a camelid develops gastric ulceration, what can you use to treat it?

Oral

What route of medication is basically not used in camelids because it it lowly bioavailavble?

Lymphoma

• Remember ANY age/gender

Llamas with enlarged lymph nodes and anorexia with weight loss puts what at the top of your differentials list?

C3

What is the "true stomach" compartment in camelids?

Low albumin and anemia

What RBC and albumin changes would tip you off to gastric ulceration in camelids?

1-2 cm dorsal and 3-5cm caudal to costo-chondral junction of last rib (pocket of fluid)

• different spot than other species

What is the collection site for abdominocentesis like in camelids?

Paratuberculosis (johne's disease)

IDB would be another good differential

A new world camelid presents with weight loss, diarrhea, and dependent edema with low protein. Thoughts?

By feeding cow colostrum to crias

How can camelids GET paratuberculosis (Johne's disease)?

Cows

• Camelids have shorter incubation periods (<2 yrs) and NOT highly contagious in camelids

Which has a LONGER incubation for johne's disease and ultimately gets this disease more commonly, cows or camelids

Steroids

How can you treat eosinophilic enteritis (IBD) in camelids?

IBD = eosinophilic enteritis

Chronic diarrhea, weight loss, and low protein + tricavitary effusion tips you off to what in camelids?

Hepatic lipidosis seen more commonly in pregnant or lactating females because of higher energy demands

What is a common liver problem among camelids that affects all but more common in who?

Ongoing damage to the liver

SDH has a short half life. So if you see this, what does it mean?

AST and SDH (hepatocellular damage)

GGT (cholestasis)

Bile acids (hepatic function)

Name the enzymes that are increased with liver disease in camelids?

Percutaneous liver biopsy

How do you diagnose suspected hepatic lipidosis?

1. restore appetite (highly palatable food)

2. decrease stress

3. transfaunation

4. IV fluids

5. Insulin

6. Medications (b vitamins & selenium)

7. Supportive care

How do you treat hepatic lipidosis in camelids?

Fasciola hepatica, Fascioloides magna

Name the most common liver flukes in camelids

Snails, slugs

What is the intermediate host for liver flukes?

F. magna

Which is more common in the U.S.? Fasciola hepatica OR Fascioloides magna

ELISA

Eggs are not always found in fecal floats for liver flukes. So how can you diagnose them?

Clorsulon and Albendazole

What are the treatments for liver flukes in camelids?

Mandibular cheek teeth because they have 2 prominent roots

What teeth most commonly get tooth root abscesses in camelids, why?

Tooth root abscess --> CT to diagnose

A camelid presents with swelling around the mandibular cheek teeth, draining tracts, and weight loss. What are your next steps for your top differential?

Florfenicol

What antibiotic can be used to treat tooth root abscess in camelids?

1. Physical/oral exam

2. Fecal float and BW

3. Adjust nutrition

4. Supportive care

5. Rule out neoplasia if no response

6. Rule out M. haemolamae with PCR

7. Give steroids as a final effort to treat IBD

What is the clinical approach for a camelid presenting with weight loss?

C1

Which chamber of the stomach will be atonic with colic in camelids?

Oro-gastric intubation + get them to lower the neck

How do you relieve choke in camelids?

Choke

• common emergency in camelids

A camelid with gagging and regurgitation that presents sick after eating is likely affected by WHAT?

hairballs = aggregation of hair, fiber, and plant fiber

What does Trichobezoars mean in camelids?

Younger before weaning

What age of camelids commonly gets trichobezoars or hairballs?

Pylorus, duodenum, spiral colon

Which parts of the GI tract tend to get trichobezoars or hairballs in camelids?

Grinding teeth, uncomfortable, rolling/laying down, kicking, C1 atony

Colic tends to be more subtle in camelids in comparison to horses. Name some symptoms

b. enteroliths

d. bezoars

e. hernia

Select which of the problem are considered surgical in camelids:

a. C1 acidosis

b. enteroliths

c. peritonitis

d. bezoars

e. hernia

f. enteritis

a. uterine torsion

d. colon impaction

f. gastric impaction

Select which of the problem are considered surgical AND medical in camelids:

a. uterine torsion

b. enteroliths

c. peritonitis

d. colon impaction

e. hernia

f. gastric impaction

c. cystitis

e. C1/C3 ulcers and acidosis

f. parasitosis

Select which of the problem are considered medical in camelids:

a. volvulus

b. urolithiasis

c. cystitis

d. bezoars

e. C1/C3 ulcers and acidosis

f. parasitosis