A field study of patterns of unobserved foetal loss as determined by rectal palpation in foaling, barren and maiden thoroughbred mares.
Abstract: Records of 1,009 pregnancies in 574 foaling, barren and maiden Thoroughbred mares on a single stud farm, over a period of 12 years were examined. The farm is situated in the eastern Cape Province of South Africa, at an elevation of 1,800 m, and in an area of climatic extremes. Records of 604 pregnancies in 249 foaling Thoroughbred mares were examined. For these purposes, those pregnancies in which a mare conceived in the same breeding season during which she had foaled were considered as pregnancies in foaling mares. Pregnancy was confirmed by rectal palpation by a single experienced practitioner. Of the 604 pregnancies examined, conceptus attachment occurred in the horn opposite the previously gravid horn in 345 cases (57%), and in the previously gravid horn in 259 cases (43%; P less than 0.005). Unobserved foetal loss after pregnancy diagnosis amounted to 30 (9%) in the former group, while in the latter group (pregnancy established in the postgravid horn) 46 pregnancies were lost (18%; P less than 0.005). This study confirmed that conceptus attachment tends to occur in the uterine horn opposite the previously gravid horn in foaling Thoroughbred mares conceiving during the same season. A significantly higher incidence of foetal loss accompanied conceptus attachment in the postgravid horn. Of 242 pregnancies in 162 previously barren mares, 95 (39%) occurred in the left uterine horn and 147 (61%) in the right horn (P less than 0.005). The incidence of pregnancy failure in this group was 7%. The side of attachment did not affect the rate of loss. Evaluation of the records of 163 maiden mares revealed that conceptus attachment occurred in the left uterine horn in 58 (36%) pregnancies and in the right horn in 105 (64%) pregnancies (P less than 0.005), which is consistent with previously reported observations. Pregnancy failure was recorded in 4% of maiden mares. Side of attachment did not influence rate of loss in this group.
Publication Date: 1992-05-01 PubMed ID: 1606930DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1992.tb02811.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research investigates patterns of unobserved fetal loss in Thoroughbred mares, categorized into foaling, barren and maiden mares, by studying 1,009 pregnancies over a span of 12 years. The study finds a tendency for conceptus attachment in the uterine horn opposite to the previously gravid horn and suggests a higher rate of fetal loss when the attachment happens in the postgravid horn.
Objective and Methodology
- The study aims to understand the patterns of unobserved fetal loss in Thoroughbred mares based on the side of attachment of the conceptus in the uterine horn.
- The time frame of the research is twelve years, during which 1,009 pregnancies in Thoroughbred mares residing on a single stud farm were examined.
- Besides oral documentations, verification of pregnancy was conducted through rectal palpation by a single proficient veterinary practitioner.
- The mares were categorized into three groups – foaling (those that conceived in the same breeding season as their last foal), barren (those with previous conception failures), and maiden (those that never conceived before).
Findings for Foaling Mares
- Out of 604 pregnancies examined, the study found a tendency for the conceptus to attach in the uterine horn opposite to the prior pregnant horn (57% incidents).
- A higher incidence of fetal loss (18% compared to 9%) was observed when the conceptus attached in the previously gravid horn.
Findings for Barren Mares
- Out of 242 pregnancies, attachment occurred majorly on the right horn (61% cases), the side of attachment did not influence the incidence of pregnancy failure (7%).
Findings for Maiden Mares
- Out of 163 pregnancies, conceptus attachment was predominant in the right horn (64% cases). Conceptus attachment side did not affect the pregnancy failure rate which stood at 4%.
Conclusion
- The research concludes that in Thoroughbred mares, the conceptus tends to attach to the horn opposite the previously gravid one, especially for foaling mares in the same breeding season.
- A significantly higher rate of foetal loss is observed when the pregnancy establishes in the previously gravid horn.
- However, for barren and maiden mares, the side of attachment does not seem to influence the rate of pregnancy loss.
Cite This Article
APA
Gilbert RO, Marlow CH.
(1992).
A field study of patterns of unobserved foetal loss as determined by rectal palpation in foaling, barren and maiden thoroughbred mares.
Equine Vet J, 24(3), 184-186.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1992.tb02811.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Sciences, NYS College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca 14853-6401.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Female
- Fetal Death / epidemiology
- Fetal Death / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horses
- Pregnancy
- Pregnancy Outcome / veterinary
- Pregnancy Tests / veterinary
- Pregnancy, Animal / physiology
- Retrospective Studies
- Risk Factors
- South Africa / epidemiology
Citations
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