Authors : Rongli You, Lihua Lv, Zhixue Cheng, Junping He, George W. Smith and Changsheng Dong
Abstract: Early and accurate diagnosis of pregnancy is important for effective management of food and fiber producing species including alpacas. In this study, the utility of real-time ultrasonography to diagnose early pregnancy in alpacas at various stages of gestation was assessed. Alpaca females were examined for pregnancy status using a real-time B-mode ultrasound scanner and 10 MHz transrectal probe at day 7-10, 12-15, 17-20, 30-40 and 50-60 post mating (n = 20 alpacas per time point). Positive pregnancy diagnosis was based on detection of presence of an non echogenic vesicle or conceptus and confirmation of accuracy of diagnosis for each alpaca determined based on non return to estrus and examination of birth records at end of gestation. Signs of pregnancy (small fluid filled vesicle) were detected as early as 7 days post mating in a small proportion of animals and accuracy of diagnosis (pregnant or open) reached 100% by days 17-20 post mating. Overall accuracies at 7-10, 12-15, 17-20, 30-40 and 50-60 days post mating were 72, 80, 100, 100, 100 and 100%, respectively. The results indicate that transrectal ultrasonography is a reliable technique for early pregnancy diagnosis as early as days 17-20 post mating and may prove a useful tool to increase efficiency of reproductive management in alpacas.
Rongli You, Lihua Lv, Zhixue Cheng, Junping He, George W. Smith and Changsheng Dong, 2013. Application of Ultrasonography for Early Pregnancy Diagnosis in Alpacas (Lama pacos). Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 12: 539-543.