Dystrophic mineralization of the arterial fibrovascular tissue associated with a vitamin D hypervitaminosis in an 8-year-old female Alpaca (Vicugna pacos)

Tavella, Alexander; Stefani, Annalisa; Zanardello, C; Bettini, Astrid; Gauly, Matthias; Zanolari, Patrik (2016). Dystrophic mineralization of the arterial fibrovascular tissue associated with a vitamin D hypervitaminosis in an 8-year-old female Alpaca (Vicugna pacos). Irish veterinary journal, 69, p. 19. Biomed Central 10.1186/s13620-016-0078-1

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BACKGROUND

Prophylactic Vitamin D supplementation is a common practice in Alpaca breeding in many regions around the world. An overdosage can lead to dystrophic mineralization of soft tissues. In this paper we illustrate a suspected case of hypervitaminosis D in an 8-year-old female Alpaca.

CASE PRESENTATION

In June 2015, the carcass of an 8-year-old female Alpaca (Vicugna pacos) was submitted to the diagnostic laboratory of the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (IZSVe) for necropsy. The animal had undergone a spontaneous abortion with uterine prolapse and delivery of the placenta, and had died shortly thereafter. Death occurred due to internal haemorrhage related to dystrophic mineralization of the left renal artery with subsequent rupture and damage of the renal hilum. During the necropsy, histopathological and serum biochemical analyses were performed. After laboratory analyses and the history of mineral and vitamin supplementation reported by the breeder, a hypervitaminosis D was suspected to be the most probable cause of the dystrophic mineralization observed in the left renal artery.

CONCLUSIONS

Most of the information regarding Llamas and Alpacas comes from the South American and Australian regions. It is therefore important to provide scientific information about these animals in other regions of the world in order to have a better and wider understanding of the nutritional and environmental conditions necessary for optimal breeding.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

05 Veterinary Medicine > Research Foci > Veterinary Public Health / Herd Health Management
05 Veterinary Medicine > Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine (DKV)
05 Veterinary Medicine > Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine (DKV) > Clinic for Ruminants

UniBE Contributor:

Zanolari, Patrik

Subjects:

600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health
600 Technology > 630 Agriculture

ISSN:

0368-0762

Publisher:

Biomed Central

Language:

English

Submitter:

Jeannette Glauser

Date Deposited:

13 Mar 2017 11:49

Last Modified:

05 Dec 2022 15:00

Publisher DOI:

10.1186/s13620-016-0078-1

PubMed ID:

28018578

Uncontrolled Keywords:

Alpaca; Dystrophic mineralization; Hypervitaminosis D

BORIS DOI:

10.7892/boris.92275

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/92275

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