Prevalence of neoplasia in llamas and alpacas (Oregon State University, 2001-2006).
Prevalence and type of neoplastic disease were determined in 551 camelid submissions (368 alpacas [Lama pacos], 180 llamas [Lama glama], and 3 cases in which species was not identified) over a 5-year period. Forty neoplasms were identified in 38 animals (6.9%). Prevalence of neoplasia in llamas was higher (11%) than in alpacas (4.9%). Mean age of camelids with neoplasia was 9.42 +/- 4.9 years. Mean age of alpacas with neoplasia (5.48 +/- 3.7 years) was significantly less than of llamas with neoplasia (12.53 +/- 3.2 years; P < 0.001). Cutaneous and mucocutaneous fibroma/fibropapilloma was most common (10 animals), followed by cutaneous and mucocutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (6 animals), disseminated lymphoma (5 animals), and fibrosarcoma (4 animals). Four of 5 animals with lymphoma were alpacas, aged 0.21 to 4 years. Lymphoma occurred in 1 aged llama (15 years). Disseminated carcinoma and adenocarcinoma occurred in 4 llamas and 2 alpacas, and included biliary (2), gastrointestinal (2), mammary gland (1), and unknown (1) origin. Mean age of camelids with any type of carcinoma or adenocarcinoma (12.36 +/- 2.8 years) was significantly greater than that of camelids with lymphoma (4.24 +/- 6.2 years; P = 0.02). Results indicate that neoplasia is relatively common in camelids and that there are differences between llamas and alpacas as regards prevalence of neoplasia, tumor types, and age at diagnosis.
Valentine
Beth A
BA
Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA. Beth.Valentine@oregonstate.edu
Martin
Jeanne M
JM
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D000820:Animal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000818:Animals; D002161:Camelids, New World; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D009922:Oregon / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence