Causes of equine perinatal mortality.
Abstract: The peripartum period is critical in equine medicine for maintaining healthy mares, and ensuring the delivery of healthy neonatal foals. The field of perinatal mortality in horses is continuously evolving, with several advances being recently made in causes of perinatal fetal and foal loss. This review details the main causes of perinatal loss in horses, through late pregnancy, parturition and the neonatal period. Recent advances in identification of infectious organisms and indicators of survival in neonatal foals will be discussed. Continued advances in reproductive and neonatal medicine will aid improved survival of foals through fewer pregnancy losses, and improved management of high-risk pregnancies and critically ill neonatal foals.
Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Publication Date: 2021-04-09 PubMed ID: 34148598DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2021.105675Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research article focuses on the causes of perinatal mortality in horses, discussing recent advancements in identifying related infectious organisms and markers of survival in newborn foals with the aim of minimizing pregnancy loss and managing high-risk situations effectively.
Understanding the Main Causes of Perinatal Loss in Horses
- The study examines perinatal mortality in horses, which can occur during late pregnancy, parturition (birth), and the neonatal period. Identifying the causes of perinatal loss is critical to promoting equine health and ensuring the survival of neonatal foals.
- These losses can be attributed to a variety of factors; the research aims to explore these to provide a comprehensive understanding of the issue.
Recent Advances in Identifying Infectious Organisms
- The paper discusses recent progress in the identification of infectious organisms that are associated with equine perinatal mortality. The early detection of these organisms can allow for a more effective response and potentially reduce the occurrence of perinatal losses.
- These advancements in identifying infectious organisms can lead to improved preventative and treatment measures, contributing to healthier pregnancies and neonatal periods for horses.
Indicators of Survival in Newborn Foals
- The authors also delve into the latest advancements related to indicators of survival in newborn foals. Having identifiable markers can help care providers intervene earlier, increasing the survival rate of newborn foals.
- These indicators could range from physiological signs to genetic markers. The identification and understanding of these survival markers are essential in predicting and enhancing the survival outcomes for foals.
Impact on Reproductive and Neonatal Medicine
- The research suggests that the advancements made in identifying the causes of perinatal mortality, detecting infections, and predicting survival outcomes can significantly improve survival rates for foals.
- This can lead to fewer losses during pregnancy and improvements in managing high-risk pregnancies and critically ill neonatal foals, which contribute to advancements in equine reproductive and neonatal medicine.
Cite This Article
APA
Abraham M, Bauquier J.
(2021).
Causes of equine perinatal mortality.
Vet J, 273, 105675.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2021.105675 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, PA, USA.
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, University of Melbourne, Werribee, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: jbauquier@unimelb.edu.au.
MeSH Terms
- Abortion, Veterinary / etiology
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn
- Female
- Fetal Death / etiology
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / etiology
- Horse Diseases / mortality
- Horses
- Humans
- Parturition
- Peripartum Period
- Pregnancy
- Stillbirth / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Cantón GJ, Navarro MA, Asin J, Chu P, Henderson EE, Mete A, Uzal FA. Equine abortion and stillbirth in California: a review of 1,774 cases received at a diagnostic laboratory, 1990-2022. J Vet Diagn Invest 2023 Mar;35(2):153-162.
- Hisaeda K, LE NAT, Kadekaru S, Ono T, Hiasa Y, Ohzawa E, Hata A, Kutara K, Sugimoto K, Une Y, Iwata E, Kunieda T, Zhang C, Kitagawa H. Metabolic, pathological, and genetic analyses of foals neonatal foals that died in Noma horses. J Equine Sci 2025 Jun;36(2):55-65.
- Parra MT, Ayala MSF. Retrospective five-year study of equine casuistry in a Colombian perinatology center. Braz J Vet Med 2025;47:e005824.
- Morales-Vázquez MM, Meza-Serrano E, Lara-Pereyra I, Acuña-González RJ, Alonso-Morales R, Hayen-Valles S, Boeta AM, Zarco L, Lozano-Cuenca J, López-Canales JS, Flores-Herrera H. Equine Placentitis in Mares Induces the Secretion of Pro-Inflammatory Cytokine eIL-1β and the Active Extracellular Matrix Metalloproteinase (MMP)-9. Vet Sci 2023 Aug 22;10(9).
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