A 14-year-old alpaca and a 3-year-old llama presented independently with vague symptoms of abdominal discomfort. Bloodwork was unremarkable in the alpaca, but showed signs sepsis llama, ultrasonography normal both animals. Abdominal radiography revealed metallic gastrointestinal foreign body cases. Ventral midline laparotomy performed, bodies were retrieved from C3 compartment proximal duodenum...

BACKGROUND Camelids are induced (reflex) ovulators. We have recently documented the presence of an ovulation-inducing factor (OIF) in the seminal plasma of alpacas and llamas. The objective was to test the hypothesis that OIF exerts its effect via a systemic rather than a local route and that endometrial curettage will enhance the ovulatory response to intrauterine deposition of seminal plasma ...

Introduction The South American camelids (SACs): Lama glama (llama), L. quanicoe (guanaco), Vicugna pacos (alpaca), and V. vicugna (vicuña) have been growing in popularity as sources of hair (fibre) in North America and Europe. Dermatological problems can be a major challenge for veterinary clinicians dealing with alpaca herds. The aim of this article is to review some of the ectoparasitic skin...

A cytopathic virus was isolated using Madin-Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) cells from lung tissue of alpaca that died of a severe respiratory infection. To identify the virus, the infected cell culture supernatant was enriched for virus particles and a generic, PCR-based method was used to amplify potential viral sequences. Genomic sequence data of the alpaca isolate was obtained and compared with ...

Background: One of the factors limiting successful processing of alpaca (Vicugna pacos) semen is the viscosity of seminal plasma. The viscous nature of the collected ejaculate has hindered sperm cryopreservation as well as artificial insemination (AI) under field conditions. Aims: The objective of this investigation was to evaluate recovery, motility, ...

Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is known as a metabolic regulator to regulate the metabolism of glucose and lipids. However, the underlying mechanism of FGF21 on melanin synthesis remains unknown. Therefore, the current study investigates the effect of FGF21 on melanogenesis in alpaca melanocytes. We transfected the FGF21 into alpaca melanocytes, then detected the melanin contents, protein ...

A case of malignant melanoma in a 7-year-old, intact, black, male Huacaya alpaca with a history of a chronic, nonhealing wound involving the left external nostril, weight loss, and inappetence is described. Malignant melanoma was diagnosed by histology of punch biopsy specimens from a mass on the maxilla associated with the nonhealing wound and from a mass in the submandibular region. The alpac...

BACKGROUND Substantial bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV)-related production losses in North American alpaca herds have been associated with BVDV type Ib infection. OBJECTIVES To classify and differentiate the long-term clinicopathological characteristics of BVDV type Ib infection of alpaca crias, after natural virus exposure. We hypothesized that persistently infected (PI) alpacas specifical...

Observation techniques of high-energy gamma rays using air showers have remarkably progressed via the Tibet ASγ, HAWC, and LHAASO experiments. These observations significantly contributed to gamma-ray astronomy in northern sky’s sub-PeV region. Moreover, southern sky, ALPACA experiment is underway at 4,740 m altitude on Chacaltaya plateau Bolivia. This estimates flux from difference between num...

The felting propensity of different animal fibers, particularly alpaca and wool, has been examined. The Aachen felting test method was employed. 1 g of each type of fiber was soaked in 50 ml of wetting solution and agitated in a dyeing machine to make felt balls. The diameter of each ball was measured in nine directions and the ball density was calculated in g/cm3; the higher the density value ...