Research and Publications
Research and Publications
There is still so much we do not know about South American Camelids.
I have always questioned why we do things, looked for the evidence behind them and challenged accepted practice when the evidence does not support it. What happened to Geronimo reinforced just how important that is and ultimately changed the direction of my life and work.
If we choose to keep and breed camelids, we have a responsibility to keep learning, to communicate findings, to question what we think we know and to improve the evidence on which their health and welfare depend. My research is part of that commitment.
Published Research
Macdonald H. (2026). Antigen-specific antibody responses following tuberculin administration in clinically healthy camelids. Comparative Immunology, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, 130, 102521.
This peer reviewed published research examines antigen-specific antibody responses following single and repeated tuberculin administration in clinically healthy alpacas and llamas.
The findings demonstrate that tuberculin administration can induce detectable antibody responses in clinically healthy camelids and highlight the importance of considering previous tuberculin administration when interpreting subsequent serological results.
The full paper is available Open Access, which means anyone can read it in full without charge or subscription. I am very grateful to British Camelids Ltd for funding the Open Access publication fee so that this camelid research is freely accessible to everyone.
Questions about the published research are welcome from camelid owners and veterinary professionals and can be sent to me by email.
Geronimo the Alpaca
Geronimo the alpaca was imported from New Zealand in August 2017. Despite the clinical, epidemiological and scientific evidence available that Geronimo was not exposed to M. bovis in New Zealand, and Defra's prior knowledge that repeated tuberculin administration could affect subsequent antibody test results in camelids, Defra proceeded to enforce his slaughter through the courts over a period of four years.
Geronimo remained clinically healthy throughout this time. Following his forced removal and death on 31 August 2021, all stages of post-mortem examination, including gold-standard tissue culture, were negative for M. bovis and other mycobacteria. Defra maintains that Geronimo was infected with M. bovis.
Geronimo's case led to further investigation, as other alpaca and llama owners came forward with similar experiences following tuberculin administration. The data gathered from these animals ultimately formed the basis of the published research above.
The circumstances surrounding Geronimo's testing, eventual removal and subsequent investigations are documented separately in the Geronimo archive.
