PREGNANCY DETERMINATION BY USE OF PREGNANCY-SPECIFIC PROTEIN-B RADIOIMMUNOASSAY IN LLAMAS

Blood samples were obtained from each of 30 llamas: 22 females that ha d been exposed to a male and were assumed to be pregnant (gestational stage, 2 to 244 days), 1 female that had not been exposed to a male, 3 sexually intact males, 1 castrated male, and 3 females with congenita l reproductive anomalies. Serum was tested for the presence of pregnan cy-specific protein B, using a radioimmunoassay that accurately detect ed pregnancy in cattle, sheep, and other ruminants. Pregnancy-specific protein B was not detected in the serum of the 30 llamas. On rite bas is of our results, the radioimmunoassay for pregnancy-specific protein B cannot be used in llamas for detection of pregnancy.