Evaluation of Methods to Improve the Diagnosis of Systemic Inflammation in Alpacas

• Published in: Journal of veterinary internal medicine 2013-07, Vol.27 (4), p.970-976
• Main Authors: Passler, T., Chamorro, M.F., Riddell, K.P., Edmondson, M.A., van Santen, E., Cray, C., Maxwell, H.S., Walz, P.H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acute phase proteins; Acute-Phase Proteins - genetics; Acute-Phase Proteins - metabolism; Animals; Blood Cell Count - veterinary; Blood Chemical Analysis - veterinary; Camelids; Camelids, New World - blood; Haptoglobin; Inflammation; Inflammation - blood; Inflammation - diagnosis; Inflammation - veterinary; Internal medicine; Iron - blood; Lipopolysaccharides - toxicity; Male; New World camelid; Osmotic mini-pump; Plasma; Proteins; Serum amyloid A; Serum iron concentration
• ISSN: 0891-6640; 1939-1676
• DOI: 10.1111/jvim.12102

Background The stoic nature of alpacas and limitations of current diagnostic tests make early recognition of inflammatory diseases in this species challenging. Objectives In a model of mild systemic inflammation, this study evaluated the utility of different clinical and clinicopathologic variables as accurate predictors of inflammation in alpacas. Animals Twelve clinically healthy alpacas were randomly assigned to equal‐sized treatment (TG) and control (CG) groups. After collection of initial blood samples (0 hour), lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 20 μg/kg/24 h) or saline was administered by SC osmotic mini‐pumps (OMP) for 96 hours. Additional blood samples were collected at 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, 72, 96, 120, 144, and 240 hours and differential leukocyte counts and concentrations of globulin, albumin, iron, haptoglobin, and serum amyloid A were measured. Results Mild swelling was observed at OMP implantation sites in both groups. Other clinical signs of systemic inflammation were not observed. Total leukocytes, neutrophils, albumin, and globulin concentrations were not significantly different between groups. Compared with CG‐alpacas, TG‐alpacas had fewer lymphocytes (P = .0322), more band neutrophils (P = .0087), and higher neutrophil/lymphocyte ratios (P = .0295) during the first 96 hours of the study. During LPS administration, serum iron concentrations were significantly decreased in TG‐alpacas (P