Study of alveolar macrophages in alpacas (Vicugna pacos)

Breeding of alpacas are an important economic activity in Peruvian Andes and the lung problems in the first months of life limit their breeding. Alveolar macrophages (AM) play a important role in the regulation of local immune activity in the lung, through the bioactive production factors which are responsible of act when different agents enter whose could alter lung homeostasis. This study had the aim determinate the number of AM and the leukocytary count in alpaca's lung. We have used 9 male, healthy alpacas (3 female and 6 male). From bronchoalveolar lavage of each animal, the total of AM, total leukocytes and differential count were determinate. The results show us the number per μl is: leucocytes 67.49; AM 48.14; polymorphonuclear (PMN) 16.70; Lymphocytes 1.87; Basophiles 0.28 y eosinophiles 0,50. And the differential count (%) was: AM 74.28, PMN 21.98; lymphocytes 2.67; basophiles 0.39 and eosinophiles 0.69. These results suggest that in bronchoalveolar lavage the AM are the most important leucocyte type, showing us that the AM play an important role in the regulation of immunity in the lung of alpacas as in other animal species.