[Case report: equine arteritis virus (EAV) as the cause of abortion in alpacas?]

Here we report a case of a late abortion of a primiparous alpaca where genome fragments of the equine viral arteritis virus (EAV) could be detected in fetal tissues using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). All five alpacas of the herd had virus neutralizing antibodies against EAV. EAV thus must be regarded as a potential agent for abortions in alpacas. Possible routes of introduction of the virus are discussed.