Cerebrospinal fluid eosinophilia is a sensitive and specific test for the diagnosis of Parelaphostrongylus tenuis in camelids in the northeastern United States.

Aberrant migration of Parelaphostrongylus tenuis in camelids results in neurologic deficits, recumbency, and sometimes death. An antemortem diagnosis of P. tenuis in camelids is typically based upon the presence of characteristic asymmetric neurologic deficits, known exposure to white-tailed deer, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) eosinophilia, and response to treatment. The diagnostic accuracy of CSF eosinophil percentage for the diagnosis of P. tenuis in camelids has not been critically examined. The objective of the current study was to determine the sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) of CSF eosinophil percentage, CSF eosinophil concentration, total nucleated cell concentration, and protein concentration for the antemortem diagnosis of P. tenuis. Medical records of camelids admitted to Cornell University with clinical signs of neurologic disease, CSF analysis, and necropsy were examined from January 2000 through December 2009. Se and Sp were determined by receiver operating characteristic curves in camelids diagnosed with P. tenuis (n = 13) or other conditions (n = 24) based on postmortem examination. More than 17% of eosinophils in CSF had a Se of 85% and Sp of 92% for P. tenuis diagnosis (area under the curve [AUC]: 0.87; SE AUC: 0.07; P < 0.0001; 95% confidence interval [CI] AUC: 0.72-0.96), and >1.4 eosinophils/µl of CSF had a Se of 85% and Sp of 96% (AUC: 0.9; SE AUC: 0.06; P < 0.0001; 95% CI AUC: 0.76-0.97). Cerebrospinal fluid eosinophil percentage and concentration are sensitive and specific methods for diagnosing P. tenuis antemortem in camelids residing in regions endemic to white-tailed deer.

Líquido cefalorraquídeo como medio de cultivo para xenotrasplantes / Cerebrospinal fluid as a culture medium for tissue transplantation

Se presenta la experiencia del trasplante de Islotes de Langerhans de ratón a un sistema de derivación ventriculoperitoneal previamente instalado en otra especie (llama). Se plantea que el Líquido cefalorraquídeo (LCR) es un ambiente privilegiado desde el punto de vista inmunitario, en el sentido de carecer de tasas elevadas de anticuerpos y células inmunoactivas. El objeto del trabajo es demostrar la variabilidad a largo plazo y la funcionalidad de estos islotes dentro del ambiente de LCR del receptor. Se observó producción de insulina durante todo el tiempo de observación sin existir indicios de rechazo inmunológico. Se discuten las implicancias y posible desarrollo posterior de este tipo de experiencias

Composition of cerebrospinal fluid in healthy adult llamas.

Cerebrospinal fluid and serum were obtained from 17 adult, healthy llamas (9 males, 1 castrated male, and 7 females). Osmolality; activities of lactate dehydrogenase and creatine kinase; and concentrations of glucose, sodium, chloride, potassium, total protein, and albumin were determined in serum and CSF. Total and differential cell counts were determined in CSF, and electrophoresis of CSF proteins was performed. Total nucleated cell count was low, 0 to 3/microliters, which is lower than that reported for other domestic species and is similar to values in healthy people. Differential leukocyte percentages were disparate depending on the degree of blood contamination. Blood contamination influenced the percentage of neutrophils and eosinophils in CSF. Samples with few erythrocytes had differential leukocyte distribution similar to that of other species: mostly lymphocytes, fewer monocytoid cells, and scant neutrophils. Older llamas had a few eosinophils in the CSF. Total protein, albumin, and gamma-globulin concentrations in llamas were similar to values in cattle and were higher than values in most domestic species. Glucose concentration in CSF was approximately 40% of the value in serum (nonruminant animals and peoply typically have CSF glucose concentration that is approximately 60 to 80% of the serum glucose concentration). Sodium and Cl concentrations in CSF were higher than those in serum, whereas K concentration was lower in CSF, compared with serum. Activities of creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase in CSF were markedly lower than those in serum, and the ranges of values in this group of healthy llamas were narrow.

Clinical pathology of llamas.

Examination of the diseased llama often relies on clinical laboratory information to supplement that from the physical examination and history. Because of the llama's only recent importance as a companion animal, little information is available on the analysis and interpretation of clinical laboratory parameters in this species. Llamas possess red blood cells with a unique shape, small size, and high hemoglobin content. The hemoglobin has a high oxygen affinity, which helps the animal adapt to high altitudes and presents with an oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve shifted to the left. The llama maintains high resting blood glucose, creatinine, and urea nitrogen levels. It is very efficient at recycling urea nitrogen via nonrenal pathways. Most of the clinical pathologic parameters can be utilized and interpreted as in other species, but with a different baseline of normal values.