Fructosamine in llamas (Lama glama) is associated with sex, body condition score, and hematologic and serum parameters.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to provide orientation values for fructosamine in adult llamas and to characterize relationships with other laboratory and clinical parameters. ANIMALS: Data from 22 healthy adult llamas of both sexes. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted with the findings of a veterinary herd visit from August 2022. Fructosamine measured from plasma samples was characterized, and its relationships with clinical and laboratory diagnostic data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and correlation analysis. RESULTS: Fructosamine was 311 ± 34 µmol/L (mean ± SD), with a range of 254.8 to 409.2 µmol/L. Males showed significantly higher plasma fructosamine levels than females (P < .05). Plasma fructosamine revealed significant positive correlations with glucose, total protein, and albumin and also with PCV, hemoglobin, calcium, sodium, and selenium. Female llamas revealed further positive correlations with body condition scoring. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The results of this study can be used as orientation values for fructosamine in llamas. Fructosamine is used to distinguish acute hyperglycemia caused by stress from chronic hyperglycemia in other species, which might be caused by disorders of the glucose metabolism.

Clinical and hematological findings in alpacas (Vicugna pacos) with and without Candidatus Mycoplasma haemolamae infection.

Anemia is a common problem in South American camelids (SACs). Infections with Candidatus Mycoplasma haemolamae (CMh), a cell-wall free, hemotropic bacterium, are often suspected to be an important cause of anemia, as the pathogen infects the erythrocytes and is found in the blood of up to 30% of SACs. The information on the clinical signs of animals infected with this pathogen vary widely. Most infections are clinically inapparent. Treatment is usually carried out with oxytetracycline. A detailed overview of the clinical and hematological findings in 13 alpacas infected with Candidatus M. haemolamae (CMh+), based on patients from our university clinic and comparing those findings with the results of 22 negative alpacas (CMh-) is provided. Assignment to both groups was based on the PCR result. No relevant clinical or hematological differences between CMh+ and CMh- were found, the clinical signs in CMh+ were usually due to comorbidities. The examination of a blood smear alone proved to be insufficient; a PCR test should be carried out to confirm or rule out an infection. A critical review of the need for antibiotic treatment on the basis of a positive test result alone is recommended.

[Choanal atresia in an alpaca cria (Vicugna pacos)]. / Choanenatresie bei einem Alpakacria (Vicugna pacos).

After birth, an alpaca cria was noticed to exhibit weakness and respiratory distress, particularly when attempting to suckle milk from the dam's udder. Clinical findings indicated the presence of bilateral choanal atresia and the animal was subsequently euthanised. A computed tomography scan and a pathological examination were performed to describe the malformation in detail. Choanal atresia is a common malformation in neonatal South American camelids, surgical treatment is not recommended. This case report provides an overview of the clinical findings as well as the results of imaging and pathologic examinations and may help to raise awareness of this malformation for early recognition.

The measurement of plasma fructosamine as a diagnostic tool to improve the interpretation of plasma glucose and proteins in alpacas (Vicugna pacos).

This study assesses the use of fructosamine as a diagnostic tool for hyperglycemia in alpacas in view of their sensitivity to stress and susceptibility to conditions like lipid mobilization syndrome. Plasma fructosamine, like in diagnosing diabetes in cats and dogs, can reveal long-term blood glucose trends, differentiating stress-induced spikes from persistent diabetic hyperglycemia. In 125 alpacas presented as patients of a veterinary clinic, plasma glucose and fructosamine concentrations were compared for correlations with findings of the general clinical examination, laboratory parameters, demographic data, and a behavioral stress assessment processed by using principal component analysis. Hyperglycemia was observed on admission of 71% (89/125) of the animals. This was significantly associated with a higher concentration of serum cortisol and a higher behavioral stress scoring. Fructosamine above the reference limit was detected in only 15% (13/89) of the hyperglycemic individuals. In addition to a positive correlation of fructosamine to glucose concentration, positive relationships with different plasma proteins were detected. A relationship to stress parameters was not observed. These findings underscore stress as a significant trigger for hyperglycemia in alpacas and suggest fructosamine as a valuable parameter for distinguishing between stress-induced and diabetic hyperglycemia. However, the dependence of fructosamine formation on total plasma protein concentration should be considered to avoid misinterpretation.

Relationships between body condition score, body weight and body measurements in alpacas.

BACKGROUND: The nutritional status in alpacas is often masked by their dense fibre coat. Its assessment is commonly approached by different body condition scores (BCS) that rely on manual palpation of defined anatomical regions. However, BCS is an important diagnostic tool to aid recognition of diseased South American camelids (SACs) and low BCS has been associated with conditions like anaemia and neutrophilia. For dose-dependent veterinary treatment, body weight (BW), that should be as accurate as possible, is required. As on-site weighing with scales is often not possible, BW can mostly only be roughly estimated. To date, it remains unclear whether BCS in alpacas provides reliable information on BW or the ratios of BW to body length commonly known as Body Mass Index (BMI) or Ponderal Index (PI). Equations to estimate BW based on body measurements are available in the literature. Nonetheless, respective equations were developed in growing alpacas or adult llamas and BCS was not included. RESULTS: To compare six different BCS approaches and to examine the relationship between BCS and BW, body measurements and BCS scores were recorded in a herd of 105 alpacas. The examined BCS approaches showed significant (p < 0.05) but poor to moderate positive correlations to BW, BMI or PI. A solely visual inspection of BCS, in contrast, was not correlated with BW, BMI or PI. Equations previously developed in other studies provided an accurate estimation of BW. Multiple linear regression showed that the accuracy in predicting BW could be further increased by adding BCS data and sex. CONCLUSION: Our observations indicate that most selected BCS approaches are not only important measures of nutritional status but can also be used to create more accurate models for BW calculation in alpacas. The study also supports the claim that a purely visual inspection of alpacas is not an adequate method to evaluate the nutritional status of these animals.