Written: 07/20/2024


This is a reminder that the conditions in this part of the country are extremely favorable for a barberpole worm explosion. We have been lulled into complacency over the past several years due to extreme heat and drought conditions, but this period of warmth coupled with humidity (we are having heavy dews here in southern Oklahoma, which is almost unheard of for the end of July), and a resurgence of pasture grasses have contributed to a ‘perfect storm’ for these parasites.

If you are unfamiliar with barberpole worm, also called ‘haemonchus contortus,’ they are a strongyle that love to set up shop in the third compartment of camelids, feeding off the rich blood supply there. These nasty critters can drain an alpaca (or llama) in no time. I have personally famacha scored an alpaca on Monday, only to find it down and trying to ‘check out’ on Saturday. It is imperative that you pay attention to your alpacas and don’t dismiss any behavior that is out of the norm for them.

With that said, what are some signs to look for? A dead alpaca is usually the first indication something is amiss in your herd. That’s how fast things can go south with barberpole. Beyond that, lethargy is the most common first symptom. This is hard to pick up on this time of year, as the warmer temperatures tend to keep alpacas in front of fans or hanging out in the shade. Alpacas that normally come running for grain or water sprays but suddenly lag behind or refuse to come in altogether should be pulled aside immediately and famacha checked. Other symptoms that can be observed are a lack of appetite, weight loss, bottle jaw (a noticeable swelling of the bottom jaw), and of course, anemia

What is famacha scoring? This is a visual representation of the amount of red blood cells present in the body. You can check this yourself by pulling down the eyelid and looking at the flesh around the eyeball. A nice healthy red/pink indicates a good red blood cell count. A pale pink or white is cause for concern and should be treated for parasites ASAP. Severe cases of anemia may require a blood transfusion to save the animal, so have a donor alpaca selected ahead of time (one that is robust, healthy, and easy to handle/load in a hurry).
Prevention is easier said than done in most cases. Controlling stocking rate (how many animals are grazing an acre of pasture), rotational grazing, cleaning/burning manure piles, and keeping the grass at a minimum of 3-4 inches can help alleviate exposure. Dry lotting (keeping animals in a confined area without grass) and feeding hay in bunks (not on the ground), can help prevent infection, while also giving pastures time to dry out and ‘bake’ with the summer heat, will reduce parasite numbers.

It is also a good idea to practice routine fecal testing, even if it is only testing the piles in each paddock. Having a baseline of what ‘normal’ parasite numbers look like will help you identify problems later. Mid-America Ag in Wisconsin does fecal testing with a great turnaround, for a reasonable price (especially if you are having large numbers of tests ran). Remember, a healthy animal with no symptoms that test positive for parasites is still a healthy animal. Only treat alpacas that are exhibiting symptoms or on the advice from your vet. Resistance to dewormers is on the rise! Also, as a reminder, barberpole worm eggs cannot be distinguished from other strongyle eggs under a microscope. A high strongyle count coupled with the symptoms mentioned above is pretty indicative of a barberpole infection.

Do your research and have the correct deworming medication on hand AT ALL TIMES. The quicker a llama or alpaca can get treated, the better the odds of recovery. Do not be afraid to get a vet involved! It is always tempting to get advice from breeders/internet first, but when you have a severely anemic animal, time is not on your side.

Barberpole outbreaks happen to everyone, big farms, small farms, new owners, and seasoned veterans. It is very easy to ‘beat yourself up’ over losing an alpaca to this but stay vigilant and know you are not alone. Be prepared, check your herd frequently, and employ whatever measures you can to help prevent an outbreak as we wait for cooler, dryer weather