AUTHOR=Arroyo Eduardo , Patiño Cristian , Ciccarelli Michela , Raudsepp Terje , Conley Alan , Tibary Ahmed 

TITLE=Clinical and Histological Features of Ovarian Hypoplasia/Dysgenesis in Alpacas

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Veterinary Science

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2022.837684

DOI=10.3389/fvets.2022.837684

ISSN=2297-1769

ABSTRACT=<p>Alpacas have a high incidence of congenital reproductive tract abnormalities, including ovarian hypoplasia/dysgenesis. Diagnosis of this condition is often challenging. The present study describes the clinical, ultrasonographic, and histologic features of ovarian hypoplasia/dysgenesis syndrome in 5 female alpacas. Additionally, serum AMH levels were compared between female alpacas diagnosed with ovarian hypoplasia/dysgenesis and a group of reproductively sound females (<italic>n</italic> = 11). The syndrome was suspected based on the presence of an infantile uterus and lack of ovaries by ultrasonography and laparoscopy. All females had normal female karyotype (<italic>n</italic> = 74 XX), but one presented a minute chromosome. The ovaries from these cases showed 3 main histological classifications: hypoplasia (<italic>n</italic> = 2), dysgenesis (<italic>n</italic> = 2), and dysplasia (<italic>n</italic> = 1). Serum AMH levels in affected females were significantly lower (<italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.05) than those of reproductively sound control females. In conclusion, Serum AMH level may be helpful in the rapid diagnosis of ovarian hypoplasia/dysgenesis syndrome in alpacas. Furthermore, this syndrome in alpacas presents a variety of histological features. Different mechanisms may be involved in the derangement of ovarian differentiation. Further studies are needed to elucidate the causes of the syndrome.</p>