title: Cryptosporidiosis in 20 alpaca crias.
abstract: METHODS
  20 alpaca crias (13 females and 7 males) were examined for diarrhea (n=20), weight loss (15), and poor appetite (5). Fourteen crias were between 8 and 18 days of age at time of admission.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cryptosporidiosis was diagnosed in all crias. Common biochemical abnormalities included acidemia, hyperlactemia, azotemia, and hyperglycemia and increases in aspartate transaminase and gamma-glutamyltransferase activities. Serum sodium and chloride concentrations were high or low. Other potential gastrointestinal tract pathogens were identified in only 7 crias.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Supportive care was instituted, including i.v. administration of fluids with partial parenteral administration of nutrients (n=19 crias), antimicrobials (19), supplemental orally administered nutrients (11), administration of plasma (10), and insulin treatment (9). Other palliative treatments used by attending clinicians were sucralfate, flunixin meglumine, vitamin A/D/E/B complex, antiparasitic agents, antidiarrheal agents, and azithromycin. Three crias with inadequate urine production and severe azotemia were treated with furosemide administered i.v. as a bolus or as a constant-rate infusion. Treatment resulted in a successful outcome in 16 of 20 crias. Weight loss and refractory azotemia were common in nonsurvivors but not in surviving crias.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings suggested that Cryptosporidium spp may be a diarrheal pathogen of unweaned alpaca crias that may be more widespread than has been recognized and can become endemic on some farms. Metabolic derangements were unpredictable and should be determined by biochemical analysis before fluid and electrolyte replacement is initiated. Cryptosporidiosis has zoonotic potential, and the infection can be self-limiting in alpacas receiving supportive treatment.
authors.affiliation: Mount Vernon Veterinary Hospital, 14110 Bradshaw Rd, Mount Vernon, WA 98273, USA.
authors.forename: Laura H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Waitt
authors.forename: Christopher K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Cebra
authors.forename: Anna M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Firshman
authors.forename: Erica C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: McKenzie
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Schlipf
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000833:Animals, Suckling; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002161:Camelids, New World / Q000469:parasitology; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003458:Cryptosporidium / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015431:Weight Loss
chemical_list: D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents