Use of a polymerase chain reaction assay to study response to oxytetracycline treatment in experimental Candidatus Mycoplasma haemolamae infection in alpacas.

Objective: To develop a PCR assay for Candidatus Mycoplasma haemolamae (CMhl) infection in alpacas and use it to study the efficacy of oxytetracycline treatment and development of a subclinical carrier state.

Animals: 8 healthy adult alpacas.

Procedures: Alpacas initially had negative results for CMhl in blood samples via PCR assay and were experimentally infected with CMhl; 4 were treated with oxytetracycline, and 4 were not treated.