Haematology and biochemistry in healthy llamas at sea level

In the last years, there has been an increasing interest in llamas, not only as part of a productive system, but mostly as companion animals. Most reports regarding clinical biochemistry and haematology include few llamas and details about their health status are not available. The present study aims to provide haematological and biochemical parameters for llamas of known health status. Twenty-three non-pregnant females and seven males that live in Buenos Aires, Argentina (34°36′S, 58°22′W, at sea level) were studied. Llamas were clinically healthy, in good nutritional status. Animals were kept at grass and were fed hay bale or pellets and water ad libitum. Blood samples were collected by jugular venipuncture in spring. Packed cell volume, leucocyte count, differential white cell count, platelets count, urea, creatinine, total proteins, albumin, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, glucose, calcium and phosphate were assessed. No significant differences were observed between males and females, except for platelet count and calcium, which was greater in males (P˂0.01). Values obtained for the different parameters were similar to those previously reported, except for monocytes, alkaline phosphatase, glucose and calcium, that were lower and lymphocytes and platelets count, that were higher in this study. In conclusion, different ambient and methodological conditions might affect some parameters. The parameters hereby presented are representative of llama’s population living at sea level in South America.

Fil: Gallelli, Maria Florencia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Instituto de Investigación y Tecnología en Reproducción Animal; Argentina

Fil: Zampini, Enzo German. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Instituto de Investigación y Tecnología en Reproducción Animal; Argentina

Fil: Trasorras, Virginia Luz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Instituto de Investigación y Tecnología en Reproducción Animal; Argentina

Fil: Carretero, Maria Ignacia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Instituto de Investigación y Tecnología en Reproducción Animal; Argentina

Fil: Bertuzzi, Mariana Lucía. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Instituto de Investigación y Tecnología en Reproducción Animal; Argentina

Fil: Amusquibar, María Victoria. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Instituto de Investigación y Tecnología en Reproducción Animal; Argentina

Fil: Pereira, Marcela. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; Argentina

Fil: Bianchi, Carolina Paula. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tandil. Centro de Investigación Veterinaria de Tandil. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Centro de Investigación Veterinaria de Tandil. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comision de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Investigación Veterinaria de Tandil; Argentina