Morris Animal Foundation Study Sponsored by ARF

Studying Anemia-Causing Parasite

Principal investigator:

Dr. Jeffrey Lakritz
Ohio State University

Antibodies in Camelid Mothers’ Early Milk Protects Newborns from Anemia-Causing Parasite. Mycoplasma haemolamae is an infectious, blood-borne parasite that causes anemia and illness in llamas and alpacas. Although veterinarians have the tools to diagnose this infection, little is known about the parasite’s biology or how it causes disease. Funded by Morris Animal Foundation, researchers from the Ohio State University studied the genetic variations of M. haemolamae and the immune mechanisms that appear to play an important role in disease development. They discovered that M. haemolamae varies little genetically based on geographic location, which decreases its ability to influence DNA-based diagnostic tests. Researchers also found that antibodies produced by pregnant alpacas did not correlate with DNA test results to detect the parasite. This suggests that a female alpaca’s immune system produces antibodies to suppress parasite numbers below test-detection limits. Data also showed that the parasite is not routinely transmitted through the mother’s milk and that early milk likely provides antibodies that protect newborns from infection. Rarely, crias (young offspring of camelids) may be born infected due to transfer of the parasite during pregnancy; but colostrum (early milk) appears to provide a protective mechanism for the cria showing no adverse medical consequences associated with the parasite. These results emphasize the importance of the alpacas’ colostrum in the health of the newborn and emphasize this basic management tool when evaluating herd health programs.