title: Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis in an alpaca (Vicugna pacos).
abstract: Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis (PAM) is a rare, familial disease of unknown aetiology characterised by intra-alveolar formation and accumulation of microliths. Multiple formalin-fixed tissues were submitted from a 5-month-old female alpaca that died suddenly without significant clinical signs. No gross abnormalities were observed on postmortem examination. Histological findings included PAM and severe centrilobular hepatic necrosis. Although the hepatic lesion was the likely cause of death, PAM was an incidental finding that has not been reported previously in alpacas. An overview of PAM, including pathogenesis and histopathological characteristics, are discussed in relation to the concurrent hepatic disease in the present case.
authors.affiliation: Department of Primary Industries, State Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, Woodbridge Road, Menangle, New South Wales 2568, Australia. effie.lee@dpi.nsw.gov.au
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Dawood
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brudar
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Philbey
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000836:Animals, Zoo; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D002161:Camelids, New World; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D030342:Genetic Diseases, Inborn / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*