Authors : Rongli You, Junping He, Lihua Lv, Zhixue Cheng, Ruina Zhang, George W. Smith and Changsheng Dong
Abstract: The clinical performance, diagnosis and treatment of infertility in alpacas farmed in China’s Shanxi province are reported here. Out of the 62 female alpacas studied, 5 (8%) were diagnosed as infertile 6 months after initiation of the breeding season. One infertile alpaca showed sexual receptivity to male but poor follicular development with absence of growth of large follicles to ovulatory stage. Treatment with Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) restored follicular development. Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) treatment resulted in ovulation and a healthy female cria was born 347 days after mating. Two infertile alpacas exhibited sexual receptivity and presented multiple persistent follicles >12 mm on ovaries for >1 month. Treatment with hCG resulted in disappearance of cystic structures. Prostaglandin F2 alpha was administered 10 and 11 days later to induce corpus luteum regression. Animals were mated upon growth of follicles to >8 mm and offspring born 347 and 351 days post mating. Remaining infertile alpacas were diagnosed with endometritis through clinical evaluation and transrectal ultrasonography. Animals displayed sexual receptivity, strained during urination and had visible vaginal discharge. Treatment consisted of uterine lavage with 0.9% NaCl saline containing penicillin (5000 IU mL-1) and streptomycin (10 mg mL-1). Both females were mated and gave birth following 2 months recovery period.
Rongli You, Junping He, Lihua Lv, Zhixue Cheng, Ruina Zhang, George W. Smith and Changsheng Dong, 2012. A Clinical Study of Infertility in Alpacas in China. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 11: 3953-3956.