Hematologic parameters in female alpacas during age progression: a retrospective study

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Comparative Hematology
• Animal Science

Background:

• Alpacas, unique camelids, possess elliptical red blood cells (RBCs) conferring enhanced osmotic stability.
• Limited data exists on age-related hematologic changes in alpacas, with prior studies focusing only on comparing young and adult animals.
• Understanding these changes is vital for accurate health assessments in alpaca populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize age-related hematologic variations in clinically healthy female alpacas.
• To identify specific blood parameters that correlate with aging in this species.
• To provide a foundation for interpreting hematologic results in alpacas of different ages.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 87 hematologic records from 21 female alpacas over a nine-year period.
• Statistical analysis to determine correlations between age and various hematologic parameters.
• Paired comparison of hematologic data from eight older alpacas at three distinct ages.

Main Results:

• Significant positive correlations were observed between alpaca age and hemoglobin (Hb), HCT, MCV, MCH, neutrophils, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR).
• Significant negative correlations were found between age and lymphocytes, and the lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR).
• Paired comparisons revealed significant age-related differences in Hb, HCT, MCV, MCH, MCHC, lymphocytes, eosinophils, and neutrophils.

Conclusions:

• Age is a significant factor influencing hematologic parameters in alpacas, including red blood cell indices and white blood cell counts.
• The observed age-related changes in alpaca hematology share similarities with those reported in other mammalian species.
• These findings necessitate consideration of age when interpreting hematologic results in alpacas for accurate clinical assessment.