Christopher Cebra, DV
Oregon State University School of Veterinary Medicine
Investigation into a viral cause of acute contagious respiratory disease in
alpacas
$17,900 for 2 years
An apparently novel, contagious respiratory disease (sometimes called “the snots”) has recently been described in alpaca herds. The disease often first appears in recent returnees from a show, and shortly thereafter, more alpacas on the home farm begin to show signs. The severity of the disease can range from mild nasal discharge to more severe respiratory distress, abortion, and even death. The rapid spread of the infection through herds suggests an infectious etiology, and the lack of consistent bacterial isolates suggests that the causative agent may be a virus.
Dr. Cebra will investigate the possibility of infection with a new virus, using nasal swabs and blood taken from sick alpacas. Identification of the cause of these infections would allow us to design better preventative, diagnostic, and treatment strategies.