Evaluation and frequency of reproductive tract inflammation in female alpacas under two breeding systems in Cusco, Peru

Pacheco-Curie J.I.; Pezo S.D.; Franco F.E.; Vélez-Marroquin V.M.; Angulo-Tisoc J.M.; García W. · Revista de Investigaciones Veterinarias del Peru (2026) · DOI: 10.15381/rivep.v37i2.33310

Resumen

This study aimed to characterize the clinical presentation and frequency of inflammatory processes in the reproductive tract of alpacas under two rearing systems (semi-intensive and traditional) in the Cusco Region, Peru. Clinical examinations and transrectal ultrasound were performed on 1978 alpacas kept under the traditional (n=1435) and semi-intensive (n=553) rearing systems to diagnose the presence of inflammatory processes in the reproductive organs (uterus, cervix, vagina). One hundred and eighty animals with mucous or mucopurulent vulvar discharge were identified. These animals underwent ultrasound evaluation to determine the presence of abnormal fluids in the uterus, and possible inflammatory processes in the cervix and vagina were assessed via vaginoscopy and inspection. Finally, a bacteriological examination was performed by swabbing the cervical canal only on animals that presented external signs of reproductive tract inflammation. Of the total number of females evaluated, 180 (9.1%) presented clinical signs consistent with reproductive tract inflammation. Of these, 23.9% had vaginitis, 15.0% had cervicitis, and 61.1% had metritis, while 1798 females were considered clinically healthy. No association was found between the presence of inflammatory processes and the rearing system. Eighteen cases of pregnancy were observed in alpacas with either vaginitis (12) or cervicitis (6), indicating that the presence of vulvar discharge was not a strict indicator of metritis. Bacterial cultures identified Staphylococcus sp., Streptococcus sp., Providencia sp., Enterobacter sp., and Escherichia coli. E. coli was the most prevalent bacterium in cases of inflammation with mucopurulent secretions (n=28) compared to mucous secretions (n=152). © Los autores.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos