Distribution of keratins, vimentin, and actin in the testis of two South American camelids: Vicuna(Vicugna vicugna)and llama(Lama glama). An immunohistochemical study

In South American camelids, raw semen only presents sperm with oscillatory movements. Therefore, it is necessary to treat these cells to enable them to acquire progressive motility. The effects of raw seminal plasma (SP) on sperm movement patterns (oscillatory, progressive, and hyperactive) have apparently not yet been reported. The objective of this study was to determine effects of raw seminal plasma on sperm motility, viability, and acrosomal status in fresh llama semen. A total of 15 ejaculates were collected (electroejaculation) from 5 llamas (n = 5, r = 3). Each ejaculate was diluted 4 : 1 in 0.1% collagenase in HEPES-TALP (HT) medium and incubated 4 min at 37°C, with the objective of separating spermatozoa from SP. Immediately after incubation, each ejaculate was divided into 2 and centrifuged for 8 min at 800 × g. Pellets were resuspended in either HT or raw SP and maintained at 37°C until evaluation (at 0, 1.5, and 3 h). Sperm motility was evaluated using a phase contrast microscope and a warm stage. Propidium iodide and carboxyfluorescein diacetate were used for assessing membrane integrity (viability). Acrosomal status was evaluated with the Coomassie blue stain. A split-plot design was used with treatment as a factor, with 2 levels (HT and SP) and time as the other factor, with 3 levels (0, 1.5, and 3 h), and blocked by males. There was no significant interaction between treatments (HT and SP) and times (0, 1.5, and 3 h) for each of the seminal characteristics evaluated. Progressive sperm motility was observed after collagenase treatment in all samples. Progressive motility disappeared immediately after the addition of raw SP and showed only oscillatory movements. In contrast, samples incubated in HT maintained progressive motility and became hyperactive. There were no differences (P > 0.05) in total motility of sperm incubated in HT among incubation times (0 h: 30.8 ± 18.9%; 1.5 h: 26.5 ± 11.5%; and 3 h: 21.5 ± 13.5%). However, in samples incubated with SP, a decrease (P < 0.05) in total sperm motility was detected after 3 h of incubation (0 h: 16.5 ± 12.6%, 3 h: 2.3 ± 3.2%). Sperm viability was not different (P > 0.05) between treatments (HT and SP); samples incubated in HT retained 78.4% of the initial viability (32.8/41.8, 3 h/0 h), and samples incubated in SP retained 69.7% of their initial viability (24.4/35.0, 3 h/0 h). The percentage of spermatozoa with intact acrosomes was not different (P > 0.05) between treatments (HT and SP); however, the percentage of sperm with intact acrosomes decreased after 3 h of incubation in both samples (HT and SP). Due to the presence of a high percentage of progressive and hyperactive motile sperm in samples incubated in HT and their absence in samples incubated in SP, we concluded that raw seminal plasma preserved oscillatory sperm motility. Further studies are needed to understand the effects of SP on South American camelid spermatozoa.

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Endoparasites of Domesticated Animals That Originated in the Neo-Tropics (New World Tropics)

Veterinary Sciences ◽

10.3390/vetsci6010024 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 24 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Kegan Jones ◽

Gary Garcia

Keyword(s):

Meleagris Gallopavo ◽

Reservoir Host ◽

Gastrointestinal Parasites ◽

South American ◽

Domesticated Animals ◽

South American Camelids ◽

The Past ◽

Lama Glama ◽

Free Ranging ◽

Lama Pacos

This review serves to summarize parasites found in Domesticated animals which were found in the Neo-Tropics. Indigenous domesticated Neo-tropical animals include South American camelids, (Lama gunacoa, Lama glama, Lama pacos, Vicuna vicuna), guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus), chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera), turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) and ducks (Cairina moschata, Anas platyrhynchos, Dendrocyga autumnalis). These animals were chosen due to their origin of existence (Neo-tropics) and over time these animals became domesticated and were distributed throughout the world. Over eighty (80) references were collected for this review and the papers spanned over eighty (80) years from 1934 to 2018. The gastrointestinal parasites reported for each animal were tabulated and their effects in the animal noted. Parasites reported in domesticated Neo-tropical animals had little to no effect on wild and free ranging animals with a few cases of illness and decreased productivity. The majority of articles viewed these animals as reservoir host which can infect humans and other domesticated livestock. It must also be noted that research done in the past did not focus on the effect these parasites had on these animals but only observed their potential as reservoirs for parasitic diseases.

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Ciliate protozoa of the forestomach of llamas (Lama glama) and alpacas (Vicugna pacos) from the Bolivian Altiplano

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.1703.1.4 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 1703 (1) ◽

pp. 62 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

IGNACIO DEL VALLE ◽

GABRIEL DE LA FUENTE ◽

MANUEL FONDEVILA

Keyword(s):

Stomach Contents ◽

Host Record ◽

South American ◽

New Host ◽

La Paz ◽

South American Camelids ◽

New Host Record ◽

Vicugna Pacos ◽

Lama Glama ◽

Ciliate Protozoa

Protozoal diversity in the forestomach of South American camelids (SAC) was studied in eight llamas and six alpacas from the Parque Natural Condoriri (3900 to 4100 m altitude, Departamento La Paz, Bolivia). Total protozoal concentrations were 3.6 times higher (P < 0.001) in the stomach contents of alpacas (39.6 x 10 4 ml -1 and 143.8 x 10 4 ml -1 in llamas and alpacas, respectively). Four to 11 species, all from the genus Entodinium, were observed in llamas, whereas from eight to nine species of Entodinium and minor proportions of Diplodinium (D. anisacanthum, D. dogieli, D. rangiferi), Eudiplodinium (E. bovis, E. maggii, E. neglectum) and Epidinium (E. ecaudatum) were observed in alpacas. The presence of Epidinium species in the alpaca is a new host record. The vestibuliferids, Dasytricha and Isotricha were absent from the forestomach of SAC, as well as other species such as Caloscolex genus, Diplodinium cameli and Entodinium ovumrajae, commonly found in Old World camelids.

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Sarcocystis masoni, n. sp. (Apicomplexa: Sarcocystidae), and redescription of Sarcocystis aucheniae from llama (Lama glama), guanaco (Lama guanicoe) and alpaca (Vicugna pacos)

Parasitology ◽

10.1017/s003118201600007x ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 143 (5) ◽

pp. 617-626 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

GASTÓN MORÉ ◽

CRISTIAN REGENSBURGER ◽

M. LAURA GOS ◽

LAIS PARDINI ◽

SHIV K. VERMA ◽

...

Keyword(s):

18S Rrna ◽

18S Rrna Gene ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

South American ◽

Lama Guanicoe ◽

South American Camelids ◽

Vicugna Pacos ◽

Considerable Confusion ◽

Lama Glama ◽

Sarcocyst Wall

SUMMARYThere is considerable confusion concerning the species of Sarcocystis in South American camelids (SAC). Several species names have been used; however, proper descriptions are lacking. In the present paper, we redescribe the macroscopic sarcocyst forming Sarcocystis aucheniae and describe and propose a new name, Sarcocystis masoni for the microscopic sarcocyst forming species. Muscles samples were obtained from llamas (Lama glama) and guanacos (Lama guanicoe) from Argentina and from alpacas (Vicugna pacos) and llamas from Peru. Individual sarcocysts were processed by optical and electron microscopy, and molecular studies. Microscopic sarcocysts of S. masoni were up to 800 µm long and 35–95 µm wide, the sarcocyst wall was 2·5–3·5 µm thick, and had conical to cylindrical villar protrusions (vp) with several microtubules. Each vp had 11 or more rows of knob-like projections. Seven 18S rRNA gene sequences obtained from sarcocysts revealed 95–96% identity with other Sarcocystis spp. sequences reported in the GenBank. Sarcocysts of S. aucheniae were macroscopic, up to 1·2 cm long and surrounded by a dense and laminar 50 µm thick secondary cyst wall. The sarcocyst wall was up to 10 µm thick, and had branched vp, appearing like cauliflower. Comparison of the 11 sequences obtained from individual macroscopic cysts evidenced a 98–99% of sequence homology with other S. aucheniae sequences. In conclusion, 2 morphologically and molecularly different Sarcocystis species, S. masoni (microscopic cysts) and S. aucheniae (macroscopic cysts), were identified affecting different SAC from Argentina and Peru.

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Anaemia in a llama (Lama glama): treatment, regeneration and differential diagnoses

Veterinary Record Case Reports ◽

10.1136/vetreccr-2018-000638 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 6 (3) ◽

pp. e000638 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Matthias Gerhard Wagener ◽

Lucie Marie Grimm ◽

Martin Ganter

Keyword(s):

Blood Transfusion ◽

Packed Cell Volume ◽

Severe Anaemia ◽

Common Finding ◽

South American ◽

Veterinary Clinic ◽

South American Camelids ◽

General Weakness ◽

Lama Glama ◽

Lateral Recumbency

Anaemia is a common finding in South American camelids presented to the veterinary clinic. This report describes the case of a llama presented with general weakness and pale conjunctives, displaying severe anaemia with a Packed Cell Volume (PCV) of 6 per cent and suffering from haemonchosis. The animal was presented in lateral recumbency before being treated with whole blood transfusion. After administering a total volume of 850-ml blood, the clinical condition improved remarkably. Regeneration of the haematological parameters required several weeks, PCV increased from 6 per cent on day 0 to 23 per cent on day 28.

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Plasma biochemical values in the guanaco (Lama guanicoe) compared with the sheep

Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science ◽

10.1017/s1752756200596070 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 1997 ◽

pp. 166-166

Author(s):

M.D. Fraser ◽

J.M. Moorby ◽

D.H. Baker ◽

J.K.S. Tweed

Keyword(s):

South American ◽

Reference Ranges ◽

Physiological Changes ◽

Lama Guanicoe ◽

South American Camelids ◽

Livestock Species ◽

Serum Biochemical ◽

Lama Glama ◽

Established Technique ◽

Lama Pacos

The use of metabolic profiles in livestock species is a well established technique for monitoring physiological changes, and determining the health status of individual animals. While reference ranges for serum biochemical values in llamas (Lama glama) (Lassen et al, 1986; Fowler and Zinkl, 1989) and alpacas (Lama pacos) (Simons, Waldron and Hennessy, 1993) have been published, equivalent data for guanacos (Lama guanicoe) are negligible. None of the studies which report values for metabolites in the blood of South American camelids have included a direct comparison with conventional livestock species. The aim of this study was to establish baseline ranges for metabolites in the blood of healthy guanacos, and to compare these with equivalent data for sheep.

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Llama and Alpaca Management in Germany—Results of an Online Survey among Owners on Farm Structure, Health Problems and Self-Reflection

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11010102 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 102

Author(s):

Saskia Neubert ◽

Alexandra von Altrock ◽

Michael Wendt ◽

Matthias Gerhard Wagener

Keyword(s):

Online Survey ◽

Animal Husbandry ◽

Health Problems ◽

South American ◽

Wool Production ◽

Self Reflection ◽

South American Camelids ◽

Feeding Management ◽

Management Measures ◽

On Farm

An online survey of llama and alpaca owners was used to collect data on the population, husbandry, feeding, management measures and health problems. A total of 255 questionnaires were evaluated. In total, 55.1% of the owners had started keeping South American camelids within the last six years. The majority managed small farms with fewer than 15 animals (66.4% of 250 farms). More than half of the participants stated that they kept the camelids as hobby animals (64.3%), although they used them for wool production (55.7%) and/or for breeding (51.8%). Vaccination and deworming were carried out on more than 80% of the farms. The most common diseases occurring on the farms were endo- and ectoparasites. A total of 55.3% of the owners estimated their own knowledge of South American camelids as good, 14.5% as very good. In contrast, more than half of the owners agreed little or not at all with the statement that veterinarians generally have sufficient knowledge about South American camelids. Further research is needed to include veterinarians’ perspectives and thus optimise animal husbandry.

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