The goal of this study was to investigate the age-related differences in testosterone concentration and its relation to testicular biometrics, testicular blood flow, and fertility in alpacas (Vicugna pacos). Fifteen alpaca males with different ages (young (YM; ~12–14 mo.), n = 5; intermediate (IM; ~24 mo.), n = 5; and old (OM; ≥36 mo.), n = 5) were enrolled in the study. Blood samples were taken from each alpaca male and the circulating plasmatic testosterone concentration (TC; ng/mL) was determined using ELISA analysis. The testicular traits related to bio-morphometric parameters (the length (L), width (W), area (A), and volume (TV)) were assessed using B-mode ultrasonography. Pulse-wave/power Doppler ultrasonography was used to obtain the circulatory dynamic values (testicular hemodynamics) before the beginning of natural service mating. Significant differences were observed in TC among the age groups, increasing as the age of the males increased (2.47 ± 0.31, 8.45 ± 1.53, and 22.66 ± 2.15 for YM, IM, and OM, respectively; p < 0.05); however, no differences were observed regarding the testicular B-mode ultrasonographic parameters (L, W, and A) (p > 0.05). Positive correlations were observed between TV and testicular L, W, and A (r = 0.96, r = 0.95, and r = 0.96, respectively; p ≤ 0.001). Pulse-wave-Doppler-derived parameters such as the pulsatility index (PI) and the resistive index (RI), as well as the total vascularity area (TVA) assessed by power Doppler, were similar in all of the age groups studied (p > 0.05). General linear model (GLM) analysis showed a relationship between TC and TV (OR = 0.95; p = 0.04), as well as between TC and TVA (OR = 0.99; p= 0.02). Finally, no differences were observed regarding the pregnancy rate among the different age groups (p > 0.05). In conclusion, TC increased as the age of the alpaca males increased. Although TC was related to TV and TVA, the pregnancy rates obtained from individuals belonging to the different age groups were similar, indicating that TC, TV, and TVA were not determining factors in assessing the potential age-related fertility differences in alpaca males.

The reproductive physiology in camelid species has its particularities. The present study aimed to characterize the ovarian follicular dynamics and its functional significance in relation to follicular deviation, vaginal cytological characteristics, and sexual hormone profiles in llamas as the first report in South American camelids. Non-pregnant, multiparous llamas (Lama glama; n = 10; age: 48–72 mo.; BCS: 2.5–3.0) were enrolled in the study. The ultrasonographic assessment was carried out transvaginally and follicular ablation was performed (day 0) when follicles were larger than 7 mm. The follicle number and diameter were scored daily throughout the process for a proper evaluation of the deviated follicles and to monitor the presence of new follicle pools (1.5 to 2.5 mm diameter). Vaginal cytological evaluation (parabasal, intermediate, and superficial cells) was performed every other day until day 6. Endocrine profiles (17β estradiol, anti-Mullerian hormone, testosterone, and progesterone) during pre- and post-follicular deviation were determined by using the ELISA assay. Differential follicular dynamics both in the presence of a single dominant follicle (DF) and in codominance during the follicular deviation process were detected in llamas (p < 0.05). The percentage of superficial cells was the most related to the follicular wave phase. However, the percentage of parabasal, intermediate, and superficial cells was not related to the phases of follicular growth, dominance, and regression (p > 0.05). Differential patterns among the different hormone concentration levels regarding the 17β estradiol, anti-Mullerian hormone, progesterone, and testosterone during follicular deviation were observed, with the latter being significantly different along the deviation process (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the use of vaginal cytology assessment would not be sufficient to determine the follicular phases in llamas. Therefore, complementary analyses, such as ultrasonography and endocrine assessment, are strongly recommended to determine follicular dynamics during the follicular deviation.

Carcinoma de células escamosas en ovinos del altiplano peruano: Reporte de casos

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of three doses of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) for ovarian superstimulation on ovarian response, follicular development and cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) collection in llamas. For this purpose, eighteen multiparous non-lactating adult (4–7 yo) female llamas with an average body condition of 2.8 (BCS 1–5) were submitted to a follicular ablation (FA) to induce a new follicular wave emergence. Two days after FA (Day 0), synchronized llamas were randomly allocated to three treatment groups (n = 6/group) and given 500, 750 and 1000 IU of eCG (Novormon®, Syntex, Buenos Aires, Argentina) per animal respectively to induce ovarian superstimulation. Transrectal ultrasonography were performed on Days 2, 4, and 6; and ovum pick up (OPU) was performed on Day 6. Data was evaluated by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), repeated measures ANOVA, and 2-tailed Chi-square. The average size (mm) of follicles was greater (p≤ 0.05) in the 1000 IU group compared to the other groups. There was a greater (p≤ 0.05) number of follicles ≥ 7 mm in the 1000 IU group compared to the 500 IU group. Number of COCs collected on Day 6 and the COC recovery rate were not different among groups. In conclusion, a single dose of 1000 IU of eCG induced the best ovarian response resulting in larger and greater number of follicles at the time of OPU.

Objetivo. Determinar la influencia de la castración bilateral de alpacas jóvenes sobre la composición centesimal y el contenido de colesterol en tejido muscular de cinco regiones anatómicas. Materiales y métodos. Se seleccionaron 20 animales machos, de 1.5 años de edad, de raza Huacaya, formándose dos grupos de 10 animales: experimental y control. Los del grupo experimental fueron sometidos a castración bilateral y los del grupo control permanecieron “enteros”. Después de seis meses, todos los animales fueron beneficiados y se tomaron muestras de tejido muscular de cinco regiones anatómicas: cuello, brazo, costillar, lomo y pierna. La humedad se determinó por desecación en estufa hasta peso constante, la grasa total por el método de Soxhlet, la proteína bruta por el método Kjeldahl, las cenizas por calcinación en mufla a 550˚C y el colesterol por el método colorimétrico previa extracción de grasas con cloroformo/metanol (2:1). Resultados. El contenido de grasa es superior en los castrados (2.28%) que en los enteros (1.82%) (P≤0.01) y varía entre las distintas regiones anatómicas (P≤0.05); la humedad es mayor en enteros (76.14%) que en castrados (75.45%) (P≤0.01), pero similar entre las distintas las regiones anatómicas (P>0.05); no hay diferencias en cuanto al contenido de proteínas, cenizas y colesterol (P>0.05), siendo el promedio de 20.39%, 1.13% y 55.56 mg/100 g, respectivamente. Conclusiones. Se evidenció que existe cierto efecto de la castración sobre la composición centesimal de la carne de alpaca de machos jóvenes al incrementar el contenido graso y disminuir la humedad.

In Neoplastic diseases affect notoriously the health of the sheep and therefore, the profitability of the breeding of this species. In order to perform a macro and microscopic study of two cases of abdominal cancer, a sheep was taken (case 1) from the district of Umachiri, province of Melgar, north zone of the department of Puno, and another sheep (case 2) from the district of Laraqueri, province of Puno, southwest area of the same department; both zones belong to the Peruvian sector of the Collao plateau high lands. The two specimens were suffering from chronic weakening disease without response to any therapeutic scheme. The two ewes were received as pathological cases to be studied in the Course of General Veterinary Pathology of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics (FMVZ) of the National University of Altiplano in Puno city (UNAP). Both animals were sacrificed by euthanasia using sodium pentobarbital. Necropsy was performed in both cases in the FMVZ's Laboratory of Macroscopic Pathology of UNAP, tumor tissue samples were taken for the microscopic study; The samples were processed in the Histopathology Laboratory of the aforementioned faculty. The results were as follows: macroscopically, in the abdominal cavity of case 1, numerous whitish nodules were observed, with irregular edges, firm to the touch invading adjacent tissues including numerous mesenteric lymph nodes; in the