EXPERIMENTALLY-INDUCED MENINGEAL WORM (PARELAPHOSTRONGYLUS-TENUIS) INFECTION IN THE LLAMA (LAMA-GLAMA) - CLINICAL-EVALUATION AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PARASITE TRANSLOCATION

Six adult llamas (Lama glama) were experimentally infected with five l arval Parelaphostrongylus tenuis each. Neurologic, anatomic, and cereb rospinal fluid changes were assessed, and the potential for llamas to develop patent meningeal worm infections was evaluated. Clinical signs first appeared on days 45-53 postinfection. Onset of clinical signs w as significantly associated with the age of the llama. Neurologic defi cits characteristically appeared in the hind limbs first and progresse d to the front limbs. Four of six llamas developed fatal infections, w ith clinical signs lasting between 20 and 80 days. No consistent abnor malities were present in cerebrospinal fluid total protein, glucose, a spartate aminotransferase, or creatine kinase, thus limiting their val ue as diagnostic indicators of infection. All llamas developed an eosi nophilic pleocytosis in the cerebrospinal fluid, but the day on which it appeared differed. Histologic lesions compatible with parasite migr ation were present, primarily in the cervical spinal cord, in five of six llamas. Although two of six llamas survived the duration of the st udy, evidence of reproducing meningeal worm populations was absent. Ri sk of llamas transporting patent meningeal worm populations to nonende mic areas is considered minimal.