Clinical Findings and Survival in 56 Sick Neonatal New World Camelids

Abstract

BackgroundInformation pertaining to clinical presentation and outcome of neonatal New World camelids (NWC) is limited when compared to calves and foals.HypothesisValues of variables at admission and subsequent treatment would predict survival in sick neonatal NWC.AnimalsFifty‐six client‐owned sick neonatal NWC presented over a 10‐year period to the Purdue University Veterinary Teaching Hospital.MethodsA retrospective study was performed. Inclusion criteria were NWC less than 30 days of age with complete medical records that presented between 2000 and 2010.ResultsThe median age at presentation was 1 day (range 1–20). The most common diagnoses were systemic inflammatory response syndrome (50%), congenital defects (41%), ophthalmic lesions (21%), sepsis (16%), and gastrointestinal diseases (16%). Sixty‐six percent of NWC survived to discharge. Clinicopathologic findings on admission were variable and not specific for disorders. Factors associated with survival were absence of choanal atresia (P = .001, OR: 55.9 [2.5–1,232]), administration of llama plasma (P = .013, OR: 4.9 [1.4–17.7]), and antimicrobial treatment with trimethoprim‐sulfamethoxazole (TMS) (P = .016, OR: 6.5 [1.3–32.2]).Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceThe use of antibiotics, particularly TMS, and llama plasma are recommended in sick neonatal NWC. Results from this study could contribute toward defining a NWC‐specific sepsis scoring system.

Impact of bacterial translocation in calves with atresia coli

“…The clinical manifestation of the inflammatory response, SIRS, occurs in response to an infectious or noninfectious assault on the animal (eg, sepsis, burns, trauma), and it is considered to be present if 2 or more of the following occur: tachycardia, tachypnea (or respiratory alkalosis), hypothermia or hyperthermia, leukocytosis or leukopenia and neutrophilic left shift. A diagnosis of sepsis includes the presence of SIRS and the identification of infection . In our study, most cases met at least 2 SIRS criteria at admission as well as yielding positive bacterial cultures.…”

“…The diagnosis of SIRS was made based on the presence of 2 or more of the following abnormalities: temperature >39°C or <36°C, heart rate >120/min, respiratory rate >40/min, WBC count >12 × 10 3 /μL or <6 × 10 3 /μL or >10% band neutrophils, and hyperlactatemia >2 mmol/L. The diagnosis of sepsis was made if SIRS was present and if bacterial infection was confirmed by microbial culture …”

Use of a novel surgical approach for treatment of complete bilateral membranous choanal atresia in an alpaca cria

“…9 Choanal atresia has been associated with a low survival rate in New World camelids. 10 Because these species are primarily nasal breathers, affected juvenile animals are unable to breathe while suckling, which typically results in fatal aspiration pneumonia.…”

“…Reports of successful treatment of choanal atresia in camelids are sparse, 17,18 likely because of the poor outcomes after the procedure and the ethical issues related to treatment of a potentially heritable disease. 10 Approaches that have been used for treatment of choanal atresia in domestic animal species include transnasal puncture with fluoroscopic guidance, 17,18 nasal flaps, 19 and transnasal laser ablation techniques. 20,21 In people, transpalatal and transnasal approaches are described, 22 with the transnasal endoscopic approach being the most widely accepted repair technique because of its lesser invasiveness and lower complication rates.…”

Neonatal Encephalopathy in Calves Presented to a University Hospital

“…A recent paper found that 155 of 1,065 foals (14.5%) presenting to a referral hospital at less than 14 days of age were diagnosed with NE . The condition was also recognized in 2 of 65 (3.5%) camelid neonates that were presented to a referral hospital at less than 30 days of age . Given that over 33 million calves are born in the United States annually, recognition of NE and identification of risk factors for development of disease and nonsurvival are important.…”