Paraparesis in an Adult Alpaca with Discospondylitis

Zanolari, Patrik; Konar, Martin; Tomek, AIes; Hoby, Stefan; Meylan, Mireille

doi:10.1892/0891-6640(2006)20[1256:piaaaw]2.0.co;2

Cited by 5 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…This outcome is not inconsistent with humans, in that while the correlation between symptomatic spine patients and incidence of disc degeneration is high, the reverse is not. Still, we note that our understanding of how an alpaca might manifest cervical spine pain is quite limited, and there has been at least one published case of painful disc herniation noted in a llama, and one case of painful disc herniation in an alpaca . Since the alpaca cervical spine does not support a significant load during gait, future work may be needed to identify a more biomechanically appropriate means (e.g., neck range of motion, etc.)…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The lower cervical spine of camelids, specifically alpacas, and llamas, have recently been suggested as a potential large animal model of disc degeneration and regeneration due to similarities in spinal posture, intervertebral disc size, and biomechanical flexibility . Additionally there have been two published papers (of which we are aware) reporting post‐mortem identification of disc degeneration and herniation in camelids: a single llama that exhibited clinical signs of pain, and an alpaca with spondylitis . From a biomechanics standpoint, the camelid cervical spine has a vertically oriented spinal posture and is unsupported near the end in an open kinetic chain, thus providing multiple mechanical parallels with the human lumbar spine.…”

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confidence: 99%

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MRI evaluation of spontaneous intervertebral disc degeneration in the alpaca cervical spine

Stolworthy

Bowden

Roeder

et al. 2015

Journal Orthopaedic Research

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Animal models have historically provided an appropriate benchmark for understanding human pathology, treatment, and healing, but few animals are known to naturally develop intervertebral disc degeneration. The study of degenerative disc disease and its treatment would greatly benefit from a more comprehensive, and comparable animal model. Alpacas have recently been presented as a potential large animal model of intervertebral disc degeneration due to similarities in spinal posture, disc size, biomechanical flexibility, and natural disc pathology. This research further investigated alpacas by determining the prevalence of intervertebral disc degeneration among an aging alpaca population. Twenty healthy female alpacas comprised two age subgroups (5 young: 2-6 years; and 15 older: 10þ years) and were rated according to the Pfirrmann-grade for degeneration of the cervical intervertebral discs. Incidence rates of degeneration showed strong correlations with age and spinal level: younger alpacas were nearly immune to developing disc degeneration, and in older animals, disc degeneration had an increased incidence rate and severity at lower cervical levels. Advanced disc degeneration was present in at least one of the cervical intervertebral discs of 47% of the older alpacas, and it was most common at the two lowest cervical intervertebral discs. The prevalence of intervertebral disc degeneration encourages further investigation and application of the lower cervical spine of alpacas and similar camelids as a large animal model of intervertebral disc degeneration.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

MRI evaluation of spontaneous intervertebral disc degeneration in the alpaca cervical spine

Stolworthy

Bowden

Roeder

et al. 2015

Journal Orthopaedic Research

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“…4 Acute forms of diskospondylitis in humans, horses, and cattle have been managed medically with prompt antimicrobial treatment, [5][6][7] and this may have changed the clinical course of the case of the present report, if the condition had been identified and treated earlier. 8,9 With more advanced disease, bone and ligamentous remodeling has been described in humans and horses, resulting in spinal cord compression and potentially manifesting in neurologic deficits and reduced neck mobility, as was seen in this alpaca. 10,11 Following the poor response to medical management and the progression of ataxia, surgical management was elected in this case.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 90%

Dorsal laminectomy for treatment of cervical vertebral stenotic myelopathy in an alpaca

Barker

Witte²,

Driver³

et al. 2015

javma

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Case Description—An 11-year-old male breeding alpaca was evaluated for a 2-day history of lowered head carriage and lethargy. Clinical Findings—On initial examination, the alpaca had signs of lethargy and lowered carriage of the head and neck, but no specific neurologic deficits. Medical management improved the clinical signs, but 8 months later, the alpaca developed acute, progressive general proprioceptive ataxia affecting all 4 limbs and was referred for further evaluation and treatment. Magnetic resonance imaging and CT identified disruption of the normal osseous architecture of C7 and T1. Medical management was attempted, but because of a lack of improvement, the patient underwent surgery 14 months after initial examination. Treatment and Outcome—A dorsal laminectomy of C7 and T1 via a dorsal midline approach was performed, and the spinous processes of both vertebrae were removed prior to removal of the overlying lamina. Free dorsal expansion of the spinal cord was ensured by resection of the ligamentum flavum. Six months after surgery, the alpaca had returned to successful breeding with 7 hembra bred in the first year after surgery, producing 6 crias, and 4 crias in the second year. The patient was eventually euthanized 28 months after surgery because of neurologic deterioration but was still ambulatory at that time. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—A good outcome with adequate alleviation of clinical signs and breeding soundness for > 2 years following dorsal laminectomy was achieved in this camelid patient. The surgical approach was similar to that in other species and was associated with mild postoperative morbidity. Veterinarians treating camelids should be aware of the initial clinical signs and treatment options for cervical vertebral stenotic myelopathy. In acute cases, the signs of reduced cervical mobility and pain on manipulation should prompt investigation including appropriate diagnostic imaging. Timely surgical intervention should be considered in patients that respond poorly to medical treatment to avoid irreversible spinal cord injury and optimize outcome.

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Surgical Management of Neurologic Disorders

Anderson¹

2014

Llama and Alpaca Care

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Paraparesis in an Adult Alpaca with Discospondylitis

Cited by 5 publications

References 16 publications

MRI evaluation of spontaneous intervertebral disc degeneration in the alpaca cervical spine

MRI evaluation of spontaneous intervertebral disc degeneration in the alpaca cervical spine

Dorsal laminectomy for treatment of cervical vertebral stenotic myelopathy in an alpaca

Surgical Management of Neurologic Disorders

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