Animal Health

Recently, the red blood cell parasite Eperythrozoon (commonly know as “Epe”) was renamed Mycoplasma haemolamae based on the results of genetic studies done on the organism. This change in name is just that, a name change; it does not reflect any change in our understanding of the biology of this organism and the disease it causes. If you have had to deal with Epe in your alpacas, you know that we in the veterinary profession still have a great deal to learn about this organism, but this article will summarize what we currently do understand. more »

An Eperythrozoon is a little bacterium that affects the red blood cells. It actually sits on the red blood cells and the immune system sees that as a problem and figures it has to take out the red blood cells and destroy them. It can lead to severe anemia or mild or moderate anemia, particularly in animals that are stressed or immune-compromised. I don't want to give the impression that this disease is killing alpacas right and left. The organism probably does not kill animals — at least by itself. We see it more often as a complicating factor in other diseases, and in that sense, it's worth figuring out more about it and how to prevent it.” more »