Abortion of a mummified fetus associated with short uterine body in a mare.

The article discusses a case of a Quarter Horse mare with a unique uterine abnormality and a history of multiple abortions, the most recent of which resulted in the expulsion of a mummified fetus at 284 days of gestation.

Case Presentation

• The researchers detail a case involving a Quarter Horse mare that aborted a mummified fetus after 284 days of gestation.
• The abortion occurred 12 days after the discontinuation of a supplemental progestogen, suggesting that the hormonal support may have been crucial to preventing this undesired outcome.

Abnormal Findings and implications

• Upon medical evaluation, the mare was found to have a short uterine body. This is an unusual structural abnormality as most mares usually have normal-sized uterine bodies.
• The researchers did not find any other abnormalities in the mare, leading to the conclusion that the short uterine body could potentially be the cause of the mare’s repeated abortions.

Possible Causes of Fetal Mummification

• Fetal mummification is typically associated with twin pregnancies in mares. However, in this case, the mare was not carrying twins which suggests that this condition might be triggered by factors other than multiple pregnancies.
• The researchers propose that the short uterine body might have played a role, potentially suggesting a new cause of fetal mummification in mares.

Significance of the study

• The findings from this case pose a new perspective for potential causes of fetal mummification and recurrent abortions in mares, that goes beyond the conventional, understood causes.
• This research highlights the need for further studies to validate the researchers’ theory and understand how structural abnormalities in the uterus might influence pregnancy outcomes in horses.