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    Comparison of atlantoaxial and lumbosacral cerebrospinal fluid centesis techniques in South American camelids
    (Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 2024-03-01) Malmström E; Cole RC; Hofmeister EH; Stern JK; Passler T
    Background: Iatrogenic blood contamination during cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) centesis is common, which can limit the diagnostic usefulness of the sample. A novel ultrasound-guided CSF collection technique is described in horses, by which CSF is obtained from the atlantoaxial (AA) space. Hypothesis/Objectives: To compare ultrasound-guided AA centesis with lumbosacral (LS) centesis in South American camelids (SAC). The hypotheses were that AA centesis would yield samples with less blood contamination although being technically more challenging than LS centesis. Animals: Eight clinically healthy adult SAC from a university-owned teaching herd. Methods: Single-blinded, randomized, 4-way, 4-period crossover study in which 2 veterinarians each performed both centesis techniques on each animal once. Cytological sample analysis was performed, and the technical difficulty of sample acquisition was assessed. Results: The CSF was collected successfully and without complications by either technique during all collection attempts. Aspects of technical difficulty and concentrations of CSF analytes did not vary significantly between techniques. Median total nucleated cell and red blood cell counts were 1/μL and 0.5/μL and 167.5/μL and 155/μL for AA and LS techniques, respectively. The median total protein concentration was 32.9 mg/dL and 38 mg/dL for AA and LS centeses. A median of 1 attempt was necessary for both centesis techniques and the median number of needle repositioning events was 1 for AA and 0 for LS. Conclusion and Clinical Importance: Depending on clinical circumstances, ultrasound-guided AA centesis appears to be an acceptable alternative to other techniques for collection of CSF from SAC.
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    Deaths due to suspected hypothermia in sheep and alpacas on a Manawatū farm in New Zealand in mid-summer.
    (Taylor and Francis Group, 2024-01-01) Ridler AL; Gulliver EL; Castillo-Alcala F
    CASE HISTORY: In mid-summer (February), 42 of a flock of 68 ram hoggets (approximately 5 months of age) and two of a group of 14 alpacas on a farm in the Manawatū region of New Zealand were found recumbent or dead following a period of persistent rain, strong winds and relatively low temperatures. The hoggets and alpacas had been shorn 4 and 53 days previously, respectively, and were in adequate to good body condition with access to ad libitum pasture. Post-mortem and histological examinations were undertaken on four hoggets and two alpacas. CLINICAL FINDINGS: Apart from hypothermic body temperatures from four recumbent hoggets, nothing of significance was identified on clinical or gross pathological examination. Histological changes of vacuolar hepatopathy, renal tubular degeneration and pulmonary congestion were present in all animals examined. DIAGNOSIS: Based on the history and clinical and pathological findings, hypothermia was highly probable to have been the cause of the deaths. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: These cases emphasise the importance of shelter for recently shorn sheep and alpacas regardless of the season.