title: Cross-sectional observational survey of serum biochemistry values in a population of 69 adult female alpacas (Vicugna pacos) in South Australia.
abstract: Blood samples were collected from 69 'healthy' female alpacas aged ≥12 months from 11 properties in South Australia. The 10-90 percentile ranges of the 16/19 analytes measured in this sample population were within the published ranges of four healthy alpaca populations from other geographic locations. Marginal exceptions were glutamate dehydrogenase and bicarbonate. Potassium was notably elevated, probably because of haemolysis of some samples. The sample size was insufficient to provide the appropriate statistical power to define diagnostic references ranges according to international standards. The health status of the sample population of alpacas was presumptive based on a physical examination.
authors.affiliation: University of Adelaide, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Adelaide, Australia. peter.cockcroft@adelaide.edu.au.
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Cockcroft
authors.affiliation: University of Adelaide, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Adelaide, Australia.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mackie
authors.affiliation: University of Adelaide, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Adelaide, Australia.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Perry
authors.affiliation: University of Adelaide, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Adelaide, Australia.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Caraguel
authors.affiliation: University of Adelaide, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Adelaide, Australia.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Townsend
authors.affiliation: University of Adelaide, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Adelaide, Australia.
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Reichel
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000818:Animals; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000662:veterinary; D001800:Blood Specimen Collection / Q000662:veterinary; D002161:Camelids, New World / Q000097:blood*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006461:Hemolysis; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood; D012016:Reference Values; D013021:South Australia; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000592:standards / Q000662:veterinary
chemical_list: D011188:Potassium
keywords: alpacas; biochemistry reference ranges