TY - JOUR
T1 - Evaluation of Methods to Improve the Diagnosis of Systemic Inflammation in Alpacas
AU - Passler, T.
AU - Chamorro, M. F.
AU - Riddell, K. P.
AU - Edmondson, M. A.
AU - van Santen, E.
AU - Cray, C.
AU - Maxwell, H. S.
AU - Walz, P. H.
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2014 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2013/7
Y1 - 2013/7
N2 - 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 < .0001). Haptoglobin concentrations of TG-animals exceeded those of CG-animals after removal of OMP (P = .0056). Serum amyloid A was not detectable in alpacas in this study. Conclusion and Clinical Importance: These results indicated that neutrophil/lymphocyte ratios and serum iron concentrations are early indicators of inflammation in alpacas. Additional research is needed to evaluate the acute phase protein responses of alpacas.
AB - 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 < .0001). Haptoglobin concentrations of TG-animals exceeded those of CG-animals after removal of OMP (P = .0056). Serum amyloid A was not detectable in alpacas in this study. Conclusion and Clinical Importance: These results indicated that neutrophil/lymphocyte ratios and serum iron concentrations are early indicators of inflammation in alpacas. Additional research is needed to evaluate the acute phase protein responses of alpacas.
KW - Acute phase proteins
KW - Haptoglobin
KW - New World camelid
KW - Osmotic mini-pump
KW - Serum amyloid A
KW - Serum iron concentration
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U2 - 10.1111/jvim.12102
DO - 10.1111/jvim.12102
M3 - Article
C2 - 23662652
AN - SCOPUS:84880507082
VL - 27
SP - 970
EP - 976
JO - Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine
JF - Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine
SN - 0891-6640
IS - 4
ER -