Volume 59 Issue 10 (October 2025) 1719 RESEARCH ARTICLE Indian Journal of Animal Research, Volume 59 Issue 10: 1719-1725 (October 2025) Effect of Infestation Level of Eimeria spp. on Hematological Parameters and Blood Biochemistry (Albumins, Globulins and Total Proteins) in Alpaca Daniela Guadalupe Zea-Ticona 1 , Harnold Segundo Portocarrero-Prado 1 ,Uri Harold Perez-Guerra 1 , Ali William Canaza-Cayo 2,3 , Oscar Efrain Cardenas-Minaya 4 , José Eduardo Ramírez-Aruquipa 4 , Ronnie Mask Condori-Morales 5 , Francisco Halley Rodríguez-Huanca 1 10.18805/IJAR.BF-1950 ABSTRACT Background: Eimeriosis causes inflammation of the intestinal mucosa, leading to excessive mucus, epithelial shedding, and bleeding. It affects newborns and offspring aged 2 to 3 weeks, causing 80% of diarrhea cases and 43.3% mortality in offspring between 1 and 2 months. This study evaluated the prevalence and parasitic load of Eimeria and its effect on hematological parameters and blood biochemistry (albumin, globulin and total protein) in alpacas. Methods: Fecal and blood samples were collected by jugular venipuncture from 42 alpacas aged 1 to 2 months at two time points (T1 and T2, 30 days apart). Fecal samples were analyzed using the modified McMaster method and blood samples were examined using a colorimetric-spectrophotometric technique. A t-test compared time points and Pearson’s correlation tested associations between variables. Result: The mean parasitic load was 8485.71 Oocysts per gram of feces (OPG) at T1 and 2400.00 at T2. Blood analysis results were: Hematocrit (Hto) (%): 31.86 (T1) and 13.47 (T2); Red blood cells (RBC) (10 6 /μL): 9.39 and 3.27; White blood cells (WBC) (10³/μL): 11.47 and 9.38; Neutrophils (Neu) (%): 50.14 and 49.98; Monocytes (Mon): 15.45 and 16.33. Hto, RBC and WBC values were altered, while total protein (TP) (4.44 and 4.80), Albumin (3.57 and 4.00) and Globulim (0.87 and 0.80) were below normal ranges. A negative correlation was found between RBC and OPG (-0.42) and a positive correlation between parasitic load and neutrophils (0.31). Monocytes and OPG showed a moderate inverse correlation (-0.39 and -0.43). Eimeria spp. negatively affected hematological parameters but had no impact on albumin, globulin and total protein levels. Key words: Alpacas, Blood biochemistry, Eimeria lamae, Eimeria macusaniensis, Offspring. INTRODUCTION Alpaca production in Peru provides economic support to a large part of the rural population (Moya and Torres, 2008). Puno is the region with the highest alpaca production in the country with 58% of the national population (1,681,919) (FAO, 2005). Poor breeding conditions have led to health problems in the population (Ballweber, 2009). Parasitism has become a common threat to the health and productivity of alpacas (Barrientos, 2017). Eimeriosis, caused by protozoa belonging to the genus Eimeria, family Eimeriidae and phylum apicomplexa, is one of the most prevalent parasitic diseases affecting cattle globally (Cardim et al., 2018). The parasite causes inflammation of the intestinal mucosa, excessive mucus production and peeling of the epithelium with the presence of blood, affecting the absorption of nutrients and therefore the productive performance of alpacas (Ramírez et al., 1998). Eimeriosis affects the well-being of newborns (2 and 3 weeks of age), causing up to 80% of cases of diarrhea and death of 43.3% of offspring between 1 and 2 months of age (Lucas et al., 2016). Between 4 and 5 months of age, the prevalence in offspring can reach up to 90%, subsequently the levels decrease and alpacas become carriers (Rojas, 2004). Hematology and blood biochemistry play an important role in the assessment of the nutritional status and general 1 Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional del Altiplano, Av. Floral 1153, Puno, Perú. 2 Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Escuela Profesional de Ingeniería Agronó- mica, Universidad Nacional del Altiplano, Av. Floral 1153, Puno, Perú. 3 Departamento de Estatística, Instituto de Ciências Exatas e Tecnológicas, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Código postal 3037, CEP 37200-900, Lavras, MG, Brazil. 4 Dirección de Desarrollo Tecnológico Agrario, Instituto Nacional de Innovación Agraria (INIA), Estación Experimental Agraria Illpa, Puno, Perú. 5 Carrera Profesional de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional del Madre de Dios, Madre de Dios, Perú. Corresponding Author: Francisco Halley Rodríguez-Huanca, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional del Altiplano, Av. Floral 1153, Puno, Perú. Email: halleyal@gmail.com ORCIDs: 0000-0002-3967-0410, 0009-0006-6599-2970, 0000- 0001-8301-9759, 0000-0001-8321-8651, 0000-0002-4189-4747, 0000-0003-2138-9863, 0000-0003-1206-8873, 0000-0002-5389-1885. How to cite this article: Zea-Ticona, D.G., Portocarrero-Prado, H.S., Perez-Guerra, U.H., Canaza-Cayo, A.W., Cardenas-Minaya, O.E., Ramírez-Aruquipa, J.E, Condori-Morales, R.M. and Rodriguez- Huanca, F.H. (2025). Effect of Infestation Level of Eimeria spp. on Hematological Parameters and Blood Biochemistry (Albumins, Globulins and Total Proteins) in Alpaca. Indian Journal of Animal Research. 59(10): 1719-1725. doi: 10.18805/IJAR.BF-1950. Submitted: 27-12-2024 Accepted: 15-02-2025 Online: 04-04-2025