Investigation of a Yersinia enterocolitica outbreak in a commercial alpaca farm in Saskatchewan

An outbreak of enterocolitis and sudden deaths occurred in an alpaca herd in Saskatchewan (mortality rate: 18.6%). Yersinia enterocolitica was isolated from the intestine, liver, and spleen of the index case, the kidney of a second case, and the feces of affected animals. The initial source of infection could not be identified. Treatment with oxytetracycline was followed by resolution of diarrhea and arrest of fatalities. The end of the outbreak was determined by absence of new cases and negative fecal cultures. This is the first report of a presumed herd outbreak of yersiniosis in camelids in North America.