Cutaneous candidiasis infection in two alpacas

Summary Two six-year-old macho alpacas from southeastern Alabama were presented to our Large Animal Teaching Hospital for a two-week history of pruritic, ulcerative skin lesions around the eyes, hind legs and groin. Histopathology, bacterial culture and fungal culture revealed Candida species with secondary Staphylococcus aureus pyoderma. Blood zinc levels for both alpacas were considered to be below laboratory reference values. Both alpacas were treated with topical antiseptic, antibiotic and antifungal therapy along with systemic therapy using injectable ceftiofur, and dietary zinc supplementation was initiated. Ulcerative skin lesions resolved following about four weeks of antimicrobial therapy. Scaling and crusting lesions resolved after about six weeks of dietary zinc supplementation. At 180 days after presentation, both alpacas were doing well with no new lesions. This is the first case report of successfully treated cutaneous candidiasis in the alpaca.