title: Ciliate protozoa of the forestomach of llamas (Lama glama) from locations <br />at different altitude in Argentina.
abstract: This study describes the diversity and concentration of the protozoal population from the forestomach of llamas in Argentina at three altitudinal locations. Protozoal diversity was studied in samples from eight llamas from Hurlingham (Buenos Aires, 43 m altitude), four from Tilcara (Jujuy, 2465 m altitude) and six llamas from Cieneguillas (Jujuy, 3800 m altitude). The total concentrations of protozoa in the forestomach contents were 7.9, 9.1 and 4.1 cells x 104ml-1in Hurlingham, Tilcara and Cieneguillas, respectively (P>0.05). Entodinium spp. represented 97.9, 92.3 and 71.4% of the protozoal community in Hurlingham, Tilcara and Cieneguillas, respectively, and the remaining protozoa belonged to the Eudiplodinium genus. Entodinium spp. were identified as E. caudatum (mostly morphotype dubardi), E. longinucleatum, E. parvum, E. bovis, E. exiguum, E. dubardi, and a minor presence of E. bimastus (in three animals) and E. ovibos (in one animal). In regards to the rest of protozoal species, Eudiplodinium maggii is the first reported host record for the genus in llamas. This species was present in the forestomach of 14 out of 18 llamas tested, and in one case it was the unique protozoal species. The vestibuliferids, Dasytricha and Isotricha were absent from the forestomach of llamas. Similarly, other species such as those from the Caloscolex genus, Diplodinium cameli and Entodinium ovumrajae, commonly found in Old World Camelids, were also absent from llamas.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria INTA, Hurlingham, Argentina; Email: unknown.
authors.forename: María Cerón
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Cucchi
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria INTA, Hurlingham, Argentina National Research Council CONICET, Argentina Vicuñas, Camélidos y Ambiente VICAM, Argentina; Email: unknown.
authors.forename: Gisela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marcoppido
authors.affiliation: Utretch University, the Netherlands; Email: unknown.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dekker
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Producción Animal y Ciencia de los Alimentos, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón (IA2), CITA - Universidad de Zaragoza. Zaragoza, España; Email: unknown.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fondevila
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Producción animal, Universitat de Lleida. 25198. Lleida, España; Email: unknown.
authors.forename: Gabriel De La
authors.initials: Gde L
authors.lastname: Fuente
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria INTA, Hurlingham, Argentina; Email: unknown.
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Morici
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria INTA, Hurlingham, Argentina; Email: unknown.
authors.forename: Silvio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cravero
mesh_terms: D000531:Altitude; D063147:Animal Distribution; D000825:Animal Structures / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development; D000818:Animals; D001118:Argentina; D049628:Body Size; D002161:Camelids, New World / Q000469:parasitology*; D016798:Ciliophora / Q000145:classification* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D017753:Ecosystem; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size; D013270:Stomach / Q000469:parasitology*