Eimeria macusaniensis associated lesions in neonate alpacas dying from enterotoxemia

Vet Parasitol. 2010 Feb 26;168(1-2):116-20. doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2009.10.010. Epub 2009 Oct 23.

Abstract

Histopathological analysis of 108 intestine samples (103 grossly affected ileum and 5 jejunum) taken from Clostridium-induced neonatal alpaca (Vicugna pacos) enterotoxemia mortalities collected in the Departments of Arequipa, Puno and Cusco of southern Peru during the 2005-2008 birth seasons (January-March), revealed the presence of large numbers of both asexual and sexual stages of Eimeria macusaniensis in 33/108 (30.55%) of the samples with moderate to severe necrotized and/or hemorrhagic enteritis. It is proposed that damage to the mucosa produced by coccidial infections may facilitate overgrowth of Clostridium perfringens with toxin production leading to fatal enterotoxemia.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn*
  • Camelids, New World*
  • Clostridium perfringens / growth & development
  • Coccidiosis / complications
  • Coccidiosis / pathology
  • Coccidiosis / veterinary*
  • Eimeria / physiology*
  • Enterotoxemia / complications*
  • Enterotoxemia / pathology*
  • Gastrointestinal Contents / chemistry
  • Gastrointestinal Contents / microbiology
  • Gastrointestinal Contents / parasitology