Cytokine expression could play an important role in camelids exposed to cold stress and subsequent pneumonia associated infections, therefore inducing a broad array of inflammatory mediators. To understand the host innate immune response in camelids exposed to cold weather, IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6 and TNF alpha mRNA expression were examined using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction method using Syber Green PCR master mix in peripheral blood from, lung of alpacas and llamas during the cold season in Peru. Results demonstrated that all studied cytokines but IL-1 alpha had greater level of expression, and that IL-10 expression was significant greater in camelids exposed to cold weather and living at high altitude compared to alpacas living in mild temperatures and at sea level. Cytokines expression was minimal in the group of alpacas living at sea level. All lung tissue sam...

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