Assessment of cerebrospinal fluid analysis and short-term survival outcomes in South American camelids: A retrospective study of 54 cases (2005-2021)

Abstract

Background: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is commonly analyzed in South American camelids with suspected neurologic disease because of ease of collection and characteristic findings associated with certain diseases. Objectives: To assess CSF findings associated with short-term survival or non-survival in South American camelids in which neurologic disease was a differential diagnosis based on history and physical examination. Animals: Twenty-one llamas and 33 alpacas that underwent CSF analysis at the University of Missouri Veterinary Health Center. Methods: Retrospective study. Medical records of camelids that underwent CSF analysis between January 2005 and September 2021 were studied. Short-term survival was defined as survival to discharge from the Veterinary Health Center. A Fisher's exact test was used to compare species, CSF results, and survival. Results: Odds of survival were 3.9 times higher in camelids with a total nucleated cell count (TNCC) <3 cells/μL (P =.04). No significant association was found between survival and total protein concentration (TPC; P =.15) or percentage of eosinophils (P = 1.0). No significant correlation was found between species and increased TNCC (P =.63), TPC (P =.55), or percentage of eosinophils (P =.30). Among camelids diagnosed with Paralephostrongylus tenuis infestation, odds of survival were 4.95 times higher in alpacas (P =.05). Conclusions: Cerebrospinal fluid TNCC ≥3 cells/μL is associated with decreased odds of short-term survival in South American camelids.