ACTINOMYCOTIC SPLENITIS AND INTESTINAL VOLVULUS IN AN ALPACA (LAMA-PACOS)

Morphologic, microbiologic, and polymerase chain reaction amplificatio n techniques were used to evaluate an alpaca (Lama paces) with splenit is and intestinal volvulus. The intestinal volvulus produced a severe necrosuppurative typhlocolitis associated with vascular thrombosis and was most likely the cause of death of this animal. In addition, this animal had multiple coalescing abscesses affecting most of the splenic tissue. The isolation of Actinomyces spp. from the spleen and the mor phology of the colonies when stained with Gram and Steiner stains supp ort a diagnosis of splenic actinomycosis.