Initial findings following the post-mortem examination of Geronimo the alpaca suggest he did show signs of Bovine TB.

Geronimo had tested positive twice for bovine tuberculosis, and was removed from his home at owner Helen Macdonald’s farm during the morning of August 31.

Macdonald had insisted these tests were false positives, and tested that way because he had repeatedly been primed with tuberculin – a purified protein derivative of bovine TB bacteria.

In a statement at the time the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) had said culling Geronimo was “a necessary measure” to prevent the disease spreading.

What did DEFRA say about the post-mortem?

In a statement, Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Christine Middlemiss revealed that suspicious lesions were found that would indicate the presence of TB.

She said: “We have completed the initial post-mortem examination of Geronimo.

“A number of TB-like lesions were found and in line with standard practice these are now undergoing further investigation.

“These tests include the developing of bacteriological cultures from tissue samples which usually takes several months – we would expect to complete the full post-mortem and culture process by the end of the year.”

What did Geronimo’s owner have to say?

Supporters of the culled alpaca have claimed that the post-mortem showed Geronimo did not have TB.

Macdonald requested a copy of the post-mortem examination shortly after Geronimo was euthanised last week.

Lawyers acting for the veterinary nurse said she had received a letter from the Government Legal Department containing the preliminary findings of the post-mortem examination.

These findings were then reviewed by veterinary surgeons supporting Ms Macdonald.

In a statement, the lawyers said: “As reviewed by Dr Iain McGill and Dr Bob Broadbent, the preliminary gross post-mortem findings are negative for visible lesions typical of Bovine Tuberculosis.

“For clarity there are no white or cream caseous, enlarged abscesses typical for bTB in alpacas whether in the lungs, bronchial, mediastinal or retropharyngeal lymph nodes.

“Ms Macdonald has formally requested the full findings of the post-mortem report ‘Form TB50’, together with all relevant documents and the results of further tests on tissue samples, blood, serum or plasma taken or obtained from Geronimo, along with any further test results including Enferplex, Idexx, Actiphage and any other PCR or interferon gamma tests performed by Defra, along with the results of histopathogical examination.

“She has further requested that both fresh, frozen and formalin fixed tissue and fluid samples be preserved and provided to an independent expert to carry out further tests,” they added.