Data_Sheet_1_Gastric Ulcers in Alpacas— Clinical, Laboratory, and Pathological Findings.docx

Gastric ulcers are a common finding in post-mortem examinations of South American camelids (SAC), but diagnosis in living animals is often difficult. The aim of this study was to provide an overview of the incidence of gastric ulcers in alpacas, common concomitant diseases, and clinical as well as laboratory findings to facilitate diagnosis for veterinarians. For this purpose, a total of 187 necropsy reports of alpacas were evaluated, including clinical and laboratory findings on the living animal. A total of 23.5% of the animals (n = 44) were found to have gastric ulcers, nine were perforated. Compartment 3 was most frequently affected by gastric ulcers. No sex predilection could be detected, but animals 1 year of age and older were more frequently affected by gastric ulcers than animals under 1 year of age. Alpacas with gastric ulcers were presented to the clinic due to different non-specific symptoms. In alpacas with gastric ulcers, significantly more organs or organ systems besides the stomach revealed clinical findings than in animals without gastric ulcers. Of the 44 animals with gastric ulcers, a total of 21 alpacas (47.7%) had a poor nutritional status, but cachexia was not significantly more frequent in animals with gastric ulcers than in other dissected animals without ulcers. Hematologic investigations revealed a significantly lower white blood count and significantly lower segmented neutrophils than in deceased animals without ulcers. Compared to animals discharged after treatment, alpacas that died with gastric ulcers had significantly higher levels of band neutrophils and fewer eosinophils and basophils. Occult blood in feces was found in three of 12 animals with gastric ulcers examined for occult blood. In summary, gastric ulcers are a common problem in SAC, which is difficult to diagnose clinically or by laboratory investigations. As these are often chronic processes involving other organ systems, regular monitoring of the animals' nutritional status and early detection of disease symptoms may help to prevent gastric ulcers.

胃溃疡在南美骆驼科动物（South American camelids, SAC）的尸检中是常见发现，但活体动物的诊断往往颇具难度。本研究旨在概述羊驼胃溃疡的发生率、常见伴随疾病，以及临床与实验室检查特征，以助力兽医开展诊断工作。为此，本研究共评估了187份羊驼尸检报告，其中涵盖活体动物的临床与实验室检查数据。共计23.5%的受试动物（n=44）被检出患有胃溃疡，其中9例为穿孔性胃溃疡。胃第三室是胃溃疡最常累及的部位。未检出性别易感性，但1岁及以上的羊驼患胃溃疡的概率显著高于1岁以下个体。患有胃溃疡的羊驼多因各类非特异性症状前来就诊。与未患胃溃疡的羊驼相比，患胃溃疡的羊驼除胃部外，更多其他器官或器官系统出现临床异常体征。在44例胃溃疡患羊驼中，共计21例（47.7%）存在营养状况不佳的情况，但胃溃疡患羊驼的恶病质发生率与未患溃疡的解剖受试动物相比并无显著差异。血液学检查结果显示，与未患溃疡的死亡羊驼相比，胃溃疡患羊驼的白细胞计数及分叶核中性粒细胞计数显著降低。与经治疗后出院的羊驼相比，死于胃溃疡的羊驼的杆状核中性粒细胞水平显著升高，而嗜酸性粒细胞与嗜碱性粒细胞计数显著降低。在12例行粪便潜血检查的胃溃疡患羊驼中，3例检出粪便潜血阳性。综上，胃溃疡是南美骆驼科动物的常见问题，其临床及实验室诊断均颇具难度。由于胃溃疡常为慢性病程且累及其他器官系统，定期监测动物营养状况、早期发现疾病症状或有助于预防胃溃疡的发生。