Neurological causes of diaphragmatic paralysis in 11 alpacas (Vicugna pacos)

S Byers; G Barrington; D Nelson; G Haldorson; T Holt; R Callan

doi:10.1111/j.1939-1676.2010.0661.x

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Neurological causes of diaphragmatic paralysis in 11 alpacas (Vicugna pacos)

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Neurological causes of diaphragmatic paralysis in 11 alpacas (Vicugna pacos)

S Byers, G Barrington, D Nelson, G Haldorson, T Holt and R Callan

Journal of veterinary internal medicine, Vol.25(2), pp.380-385

03/2011

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1939-1676.2010.0661.x

Handle:

https://hdl.handle.net/2376/108267

PMCID: PMC7166626

PMID: 21281346

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https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1939-1676.2010.0661.xView

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Abstract

Blood Gas Analysis - veterinary

Camelids, New World

Animals

Respiratory Paralysis - diagnosis

Respiratory Paralysis - veterinary

Respiratory Paralysis - pathology

Female

Male

Retrospective Studies

Diaphragm - innervation

Respiratory Paralysis - mortality

Diaphragm - physiopathology

Diaphragmatic paralysis is a relatively uncommon medical condition in animals not reported in alpacas. Describe the signalment, physical examination, diagnostic testing, clinical, and histopathologic findings related to diaphragmatic paralysis in alpacas. Eleven alpacas with spontaneous diaphragmatic paralysis. A retrospective study examined medical records from a 10-year period and identified 11 alpacas with confirmed diaphragmatic paralysis admitted to Washington State University and Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospitals between September 2003 and October 2009. The 11 alpacas ranged in age from 2 to 12 months. Fluoroscopic imaging confirmed the presence of bilateral diaphragmatic paralysis in the 7 alpacas that were imaged. Arterial blood gas analyses showed hypercapnea, hypoxemia, and low oxygen saturation. Seven alpacas died or were euthanized between 2 and 60 days after onset of respiratory signs. Histopathologic examination of tissues found phrenic nerve degeneration in the 6 alpacas that were necropsied and additional long nerves examined demonstrated degeneration in 2 of these animals. Two animals had spinal cord lesions and 2 had diaphragm muscle abnormalities. No etiologic agent was identified in the alpacas. The etiology for diaphragmatic paralysis in these alpacas is unknown. A variety of medical treatments did not appear to alter the outcome.

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Title: Neurological causes of diaphragmatic paralysis in 11 alpacas (Vicugna pacos)
Creators: S Byers - Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA. stacey.byers@colostate.edu
G Barrington
D Nelson
G Haldorson
T Holt
R Callan
Publication Details: Journal of veterinary internal medicine, Vol.25(2), pp.380-385
Academic Unit: Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Department of
Publisher: United States
Identifiers: 99900547243801842
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article