Induction of parturition in alpacas and subsequent survival of neonates.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate use of fluprostenol, dexamethasone, and oxytocin for induction of parturition in alpacas, and to determine viability of the newborn crias.


METHODS
Prospective, randomized, controlled trial.


METHODS
36 pregnant alpacas within 10 days of parturition.


METHODS
Animals were randomly assigned to treatment groups. Plasma progesterone and plasma and urine estrone sulfate concentrations were measured for 5 days after treatment. Clinical signs of the neonates were determined.


RESULTS
Time between treatment and parturition was significantly shorter for animals that received fluprostenol than for animals in any other group. The highest dose of dexamethasone (0.5 mg) caused fetal death. None of the other treatments induced early parturition. Time between birth and first suckling, body weight, rectal temperature, pulse rate, and respiratory rate at birth and serum IgG concentration 24 hours after birth were not different between crias born after fluprostenol treatment and crias born to control alpacas.


CONCLUSIONS
Fluprostenol was effective at inducing parturition in these alpacas, but dexamethasone and oxytocin were not. Crias born after fluprostenol treatment were similar to crias born to control alpacas.
Bravo
P W
PW
Centro Experimental La Raya, Universidad Nacional San Antonio Abad, Cusco, Peru.
Bazan
P J
PJ
Troedsson
M H
MH
Villalta
P R
PR
Garnica
J P
JP
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000502:physiology*; D002161:Camelids, New World / Q000502:physiology*; D003907:Dexamethasone; D004970:Estrone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D007751:Labor, Induced / Q000662:veterinary*; D010120:Oxytocics; D010121:Oxytocin; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011461:Prostaglandins F, Synthetic
D010120:Oxytocics; D011461:Prostaglandins F, Synthetic; D004970:Estrone; C006326:fluprostenol; D011374:Progesterone; D010121:Oxytocin; D003907:Dexamethasone; C017296:estrone sulfate