[Tuberculosis in imported alpacas--a zoonosis--now what?]

An outbreak of tuberculosis caused by M. bovis in imported Alpaca's in the Netherlands is reported. A review of the outbreak of the disease is followed by a more detailed discussion of the symptoms, diagnostic testing with the tuberculin skin test and the ELISA test, the gross lesions, the bacteriological examinations, the control measures and the legal aspects. As tuberculosis is not referred to in the Live-Stock Act, the control measures had to be based on the humane Control of Infectious Disease and Tracing the Causes of Disease Act. In the discussion, it is advocated to pay attention to more species of animals than only to the traditional live-stock in the proposed Health and Welfare of Animals Act.