Combined thickness of the uterus and placenta and ultrasonographic examinations of uteroplacental tissues in normal pregnancy, placentitis, and abnormal parturitions in heavy draft horses.
Abstract: The combined thickness of the uterus and placenta (CTUP) and ultrasonographic images of uteroplacental tissues were investigated in 35 pregnant heavy draft horses in Months 7-12 of pregnancy. The mares were divided into three groups: those pathologically diagnosed as placentitis (placentitis group, n=3); those who had abortion, premature birth, or fetal malformation (abnormal group, n=7); and those who had no abnormal findings (normal group, n=25). In the normal group, CTUP increased as pregnancy progressed from Months 7 (median, 7.08 mm; range, 5.68-11.27) to 12 (13.31 mm; 7.44-16.31 mm) (P<0.05) and was higher than those reported previously in Thoroughbred, quarter, and American paint horses. Values of CTUP greater than the 75th percentile of the normal group from Months 7 (7.54 mm) to 12 (15.19 mm) were detected in 100% of the placentitis group (3/3) and in 86% of the abnormal group (6/7). Ultrasonographic images showing placental separation were obtained in 67% of the placentitis group (2/3), 29% of the abnormal group (2/7), and 20% of the normal group (5/25). Pathological placental edema and ultrasonographic images showing uteroplacental roughness or distinguishability were observed even in the normal group. These findings suggest that increased CTUP and placental separation would reflect placentitis and abnormal pregnancies and may help to detect them in heavy draft horses.
Publication Date: 2018-03-23 PubMed ID: 29593442PubMed Central: PMC5865063DOI: 10.1294/jes.29.1Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research studies how the combined thickness of the uterus and placenta, as well as ultrasonic images of uteroplacental tissues, can be indicators of normal pregnancy, placentitis, or abnormal parturitions in heavy draft horses. Findings reveal that increased thickness and placental separation might reflect uncommon pregnancy conditions such as placentitis and other abnormalities, with a potential for assisting in their detection.
Study Description and Methods
- The study involved 35 pregnant heavy draft horses in their 7th to 12th months of pregnancy.
- The researchers divided these horses into three categories: those diagnosed with placentitis, those who suffered an abortion, premature birth, or fetal malformation, and those perceived as normal.
- The attribute under observation was the combined thickness of the uterus and placenta (CTUP) and images of the uteroplacental tissues through ultrasound.
Study Findings
- In the normal group, the CTUP increased as pregnancy progressed. This was statistically significant and greater than those previously reported in other horse breeds.
- Both the horses diagnosed with placentitis and those with abnormal parturitions reflected CTUP values greater than the 75th percentile of the normal group throughout the observed pregnancy months.
- Ultrasound images exhibited placental separation in some horses from all three groups, most commonly in the placentitis group. Even in the normal group, some displayed placental edema and uteroplacental roughness or distinguishability, previously regarded as pathological.
Implications of the Study
- The study presents evidence that increased CTUP and placental separation could be indicative symptoms of placentitis and abnormal pregnancies.
- These novel observations imply potential utility in horse pregnacy monitoring. If used as part of a diagnostic procedure, it could assist in early detection and intervention for conditions such as placentitis and abnormal parturitions in heavy draft horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Kimura Y, Haneda S, Aoki T, Furuoka H, Miki W, Fukumoto N, Matsui M, Nambo Y.
(2018).
Combined thickness of the uterus and placenta and ultrasonographic examinations of uteroplacental tissues in normal pregnancy, placentitis, and abnormal parturitions in heavy draft horses.
J Equine Sci, 29(1), 1-8.
https://doi.org/10.1294/jes.29.1 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Division of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
- United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu 501-1193, Japan.
- Division of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
- Division of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
- Research Center for Global Agromedicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
- United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu 501-1193, Japan.
- Division of Veterinary Science, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
- United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu 501-1193, Japan.
- Federation of Hokkaido Agricultural Mutual Aid Associations, Hokkaido 069-0806, Japan.
- National Livestock Breeding Center, Hokkaido 080-0572, Japan.
- Division of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
- United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu 501-1193, Japan.
- Division of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
- United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Gifu University, Gifu 501-1193, Japan.
- Research Center for Global Agromedicine, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary, Hokkaido 080-8555, Japan.
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Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Abdelnaby EA, Emam IA, El-Sherbiny HR, Fadl AM. The effects of aging and gestational month on uteroplacental vascular perfusion, and umbilical artery hemodynamics in pregnant jennies. BMC Vet Res 2022 Nov 15;18(1):404.
- Niikura T, Tsogtgerel M, Niikura C, Wada H, Kanzawa S, Fujiwara T, Nambo Y. Effect of prostaglandin F2(α) administration on uterine polymorphonuclear neutrophil counts in Japanese heavy draft horses. J Equine Sci 2021 Dec;32(4):117-124.
- Gao Y, Hannan MA, Murata K, Rajabi-Toustani R, Nambo Y. Ultrasonographic examination of equine fetal growth parameters throughout gestation in pony for Equine-Assisted Therapy. J Vet Med Sci 2022 Jan 7;84(1):74-81.
- Demir MC, Demir MS, Büyükbaki B, Kuru M, Kaya S, Kaçar C. Changes in Doppler Ultrasonography and Echotexture Parameters in Cows During the Last 10 Days of Pregnancy. Vet Med Sci 2025 Mar;11(2):e70256.
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