Skin diseases of South American camelids

CAMELIDS, and alpacas in particular, are growing in popularity in the UK. These animals often present with skin disease and provide a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for the veterinary clinician. While much has been made about the role of nutritional problems related to zinc, dermatological problems in these species are frequently associated with chronic infestation with Chorioptes mites. The use of macrocyclic lactones and other products may readily treat infestations with other ectoparasites, such as Psoroptes and Sarcoptes mites, but these agents may have to be administered repeatedly to reduce the population of Chorioptes mites. This article describes the most common ectoparasitic conditions seen in South American camelids in the UK as well as some less common problems associated with nutrition, infections, neoplasia and immune-mediated disease, and discusses an approach to the diagnosis and management of skin disease in these species.