title: Skin diseases in the alpaca (Vicugna pacos): a literature review and retrospective analysis of 68 cases (Cornell University 1997-2006).
abstract: This retrospective study describes 68 alpacas with skin diseases investigated from 1997 through 2006 at Cornell University. During this time period, 40 of 715 (5.6%) alpacas presented to the university hospital had dermatological diseases. In addition, skin-biopsy specimens accounted for 86 of 353 (24.4%) of alpaca biopsy specimens submitted to the diagnostic laboratory, and of these 86 specimens, follow-up was available for 28 cases. The following diseases were most common: bacterial infections (22%); neoplasms, cysts and hamartomas (19%); presumed immunological disorders (12%); and ectoparasitisms (10%). Conditions described for the first time included intertrigo, collagen and hair follicle hamartomas, lymphoma, hybrid follicular cysts, melanocytoma, anagen defluxion, telogen defluxion, presumed insect-bite hypersensitivity, ichthyosis, and possible hereditary bilateral aural haematomas and chondritis. The results of the retrospective study are compared and contrasted with the results of a literature review.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA. shb3@cornell.edu
authors.forename: Danny W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: Jeff W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Vogel
authors.forename: Rebekah I
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Fleis
authors.forename: William H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Mary C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002161:Camelids, New World; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology