Dropsy of the fetal sacs in mares: induced and spontaneous abortion.

The research article discusses eight cases of severe dropsy of the fetal sacs found in mares, which led to spontaneous or induced abortion, alongside complications such as uterine inertia, abnormal fetus development, and placental retention.

Article Explanation

• The study focuses on severe cases of dropsy – a medical condition characterized by an excessive accumulation of fluid in the body – in the fetal sacs of mares, resulting in both spontaneous and induced abortions.
• The conditions were observed in multiparous mares, which are mares that have given birth to more than one foal. Their age ranged from five to 20 years and they were in the gestation period of 7-10 and 3/4 months.
• Four out of the eight cases reported spontaneous abortion, while the other four required induced abortion via manual dilation of the cervix, rupture of the allantochorion (outermost layer surrounding the embryo), and the draining of approximately 120 to 220 litres of allantoic fluid. The amnion, which is the innermost layer encompassing the fetus, was reported to be normal in all cases.

Complications Encountered

• All eight cases experienced dystocia, a condition manifesting as difficult or unusual labor, due to uterine inertia, which is the failure of the uterus to contract and expel the fetus.
• Although all fetuses were alive at the time of delivery, four were found to be teratologically deformed, meaning they exhibited physical deformities due to developmental interruptions or disruptions. In addition, two fetuses were notably underdeveloped. Tragically, none of the foals survived post-delivery.
• There were instances of placental retention in six out of the eight cases, wherein the placenta did not exit the body post-birth as it normally should. Upon close examination, these placentas were somewhat edematous (swollen due to fluid build-up). Microscopic examination revealed signs of degeneration in the placenta, however, no evidence of inflammatory changes was found.

Outcomes and Recommendations

• One of the mares died due to the complications, while seven recovered quickly. Remarkably, one of the recovered mares was mated again and successfully delivered a living foal.
• The researchers note the importance of special care in the pre- and post-operative stages, particularly in managing shock and retained placentas, and in monitoring delayed involution – the process where the uterus returns to its normal size after birth.