Presumptive Albendazole Toxicosis in 12 Alpacas

The study described presumed albendazole toxicosis in 12 alpacas, with severe clinical signs such as diarrhea, dehydration, neutropenia, and hyperlactatemia observed in both juvenile and adult alpacas after receiving 19-100 mg/kg/day of albendazole. The majority of affected alpacas died or were euthanized, with postmortem exams revealing intestinal and bone marrow necrosis. The findings indicated that alpacas might be more sensitive to albendazole than other mammals, suggesting the need for species-specific dosing guidelines and caution against multi-day courses of albendazole in camelids. Only 4 out of 12 alpacas survived, highlighting the poor prognosis for affected animals.