1Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional del Altiplano, Av. Floral1153, Puno, Perú
2Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Escuela Profesional de Ingeniería Agronómica, Universidad Nacional del Altiplano, Av. Floral1153, Puno, Perú
3Departamento de Estatística, Instituto de Ciências Exatas e Tecnológicas, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Código postal 3037, CEP 37200-900, Lavras, MG, Brazil
4Dirección de Desarrollo Tecnológico Agrario, Instituto Nacional de Innovación Agraria (INIA), Estación Experimental Agraria Illpa, Puno, Perú
5Carrera Profesional de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional del Madre de Dios, Madre de Dios, Perú
*Corresponding Author: Francisco Halley Rodríguez-Huanca, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional del Altiplano, Av. Floral 1153, Puno, Perú, Email: halleyal@gmail.com
Online published on 5 February, 2026.
Eimeriosis causes inflammation of the intestinal mucosa, leading to excessive mucus, epithelial shedding, and bleeding. It affects newborns and offspring aged 2 to 3 weeks, causing 80% of diarrhea cases and 43.3% mortality in offspring between 1 and 2 months. This study evaluated the prevalence and parasitic load of Eimeria and its effect on hematological parameters and blood biochemistry (albumin, globulin and total protein) in alpacas.
Fecal and blood samples were collected by jugular venipuncture from 42 alpacas aged 1 to 2 months at two time points (T1 and T2, 30 days apart). Fecal samples were analyzed using the modified McMaster method and blood samples were examined using a colorimetric-spectrophotometric technique. A t-test compared time points and Pearson's correlation tested associations between variables.
The mean parasitic load was 8485.71 Oocysts per gram of feces (OPG) at T1 and 2400.00 at T2. Blood analysis results were: Hematocrit (Hto) (%): 31.86 (T1) and 13.47 (T2); Red blood cells (RBC) (×106/μL): 9.39 and 3.27; White blood cells (WBC) (×103/μL): 11.47 and 9.38; Neutrophils (Neu) (%): 50.14 and 49.98; Monocytes (Mon): 15.45 and 16.33. Hto, RBC and WBC values were altered, while total protein (TP) (4.44 and 4.80), Albumin (3.57 and 4.00) and Globulim (0.87 and 0.80) were below normal ranges. A negative correlation was found between RBC and OPG (-0.42) and a positive correlation between parasitic load and neutrophils (0.31). Monocytes and OPG showed a moderate inverse correlation (-0.39 and -0.43). Eimeria spp. negatively affected hematological parameters but had no impact on albumin, globulin and total protein levels.
Alpacas, Blood biochemistry, Eimeria lamae, Eimeria macusaniensis, Offspring
