Effects of a Streptococcus equi infection–mediated nutritional insult during mid-gestation in primiparous Thoroughbred fillies. Part 1: placental and fetal development.
Abstract: There is a paucity of information on factors that influence placental development in the horse. Objective: Changes in nutrition, particularly around the time of proliferative placental growth, can affect development of the placenta and fetal growth. Objective: To investigate the effects of 2 planes of nutrition and an unforeseen infection-mediated nutritional insult on placental and fetal development in the mare. Methods: Twenty maiden Thoroughbred fillies, age 3 or 4 years, mated to one Thoroughbred stallion, were maintained on either High or Moderate food intake throughout pregnancy. In mid-gestation all the mares unexpectedly became infected with Streptococcus equi and suffered varying degrees of weight loss as a consequence. Gross and stereological measurements of the placenta and measurements of foal birthweight, crown-rump length, ponderal index and plasma IGF-1 concentration were made at term. Results: Gains in bodyweight during gestation were significantly higher in the High vs. the Moderate nutrition groups. Placental and fetal growth parameters were not influenced by the plane of nutrition. However, transient weight loss in mid-gestation from acutely reduced food intake resulted in morphological changes to the allantochorion and decreased foal birthweight. Conclusions: Excessive weight gain during gestation in maiden Thoroughbred fillies does not result in nutrient partitioning to the dam at the expense of the fetus. However, sudden weight loss in mid-gestation has detrimental effects on placental development which results in reduced fetal growth. Conclusions: Clinicians should appreciate the likely effects of maternal infection and resulting weight loss on pregnancy outcome.
Publication Date: 2006-11-28 PubMed ID: 17124846DOI: 10.2746/042516406x156497Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This study examines how changes in nutrition during pregnancy, especially an unexpected infection causing a significant drop in food intake, can impact the development of the placenta and fetus in the mare. The findings suggest that a sudden change in weight during the middle of gestation can negatively affect both placental and fetal development.
Objective and Methods
- The main objective of this study was to investigate how two different nutritional levels, along with an unexpected infection-induced nutritional disturbance, could impact the development of the placenta and fetus in mares.
- The researchers enlisted twenty maiden Thoroughbred fillies, all either three or four years old and impregnated by the same Thoroughbred stallion. These fillies were then maintained on either a high or moderate food intake throughout their pregnancies.
- During mid-gestation, all the mares unexpectedly contracted a Streptococcus equi infection, which resulted in varying degrees of weight loss.
- The researchers then made various gross and stereological measurements of the placenta, and also measured the birth weight, crown-rump length, ponderal index and plasma IGF-1 concentration of the foals at term.
Results
- The results indicated that weight gains during gestation were significantly higher among the mares maintained on high nutrition versus those on a moderate food intake.
- Despite this, the researchers found that the growth parameters of the placenta and fetus did not seem to be influenced by the level of nutritional intake.
- However, a transient weight loss in mid-gestation (caused by reduced food intake due to the infection) led to morphological changes in the allantochorion (part of the placenta) and a decrease in foal birth weight.
Conclusions
- The study concluded that excessive weight gain during gestation in maiden Thoroughbred fillies does not result in nutrient distribution to the mare at the expense of the fetus. Meaning, the nutritional intake does not disadvantage the fetus, despite the mother’s significant weight gain.
- The sudden weight loss experienced in mid-gestation, on the other hand, has detrimental effects on the development of the placenta, which in turn affects the growth of the fetus.
- Consequently, clinicians should be aware of the potential effects of maternal infection and the resulting weight loss on the outcomes of pregnancy.
Cite This Article
APA
Wilsher S, Allen WR.
(2006).
Effects of a Streptococcus equi infection–mediated nutritional insult during mid-gestation in primiparous Thoroughbred fillies. Part 1: placental and fetal development.
Equine Vet J, 38(6), 549-557.
https://doi.org/10.2746/042516406x156497 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Medicine Equine Fertility Unit, University of Cambridge, Mertoun Paddocks, Woodditton Road, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 9BH, UK.
MeSH Terms
- Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / physiology
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn / anatomy & histology
- Animals, Newborn / growth & development
- Birth Weight / physiology
- Embryonic Development / physiology
- Energy Intake / physiology
- Female
- Gestational Age
- Horse Diseases / physiopathology
- Horses
- Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / metabolism
- Maternal-Fetal Exchange
- Organ Size / physiology
- Placenta / microbiology
- Placentation
- Pregnancy
- Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / physiopathology
- Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / veterinary
- Pregnancy Outcome / veterinary
- Streptococcal Infections / physiopathology
- Streptococcal Infections / veterinary
- Streptococcus equi
- Weight Gain / physiology
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Robles M, Couturier-Tarrade A, Derisoud E, Geeverding A, Dubois C, Dahirel M, Aioun J, Prezelin A, Calvez J, Richard C, Wimel L, Chavatte-Palmer P. Effects of dietary arginine supplementation in pregnant mares on maternal metabolism, placental structure and function and foal growth.. Sci Rep 2019 Apr 23;9(1):6461.
- Robles M, Nouveau E, Gautier C, Mendoza L, Dubois C, Dahirel M, Lagofun B, Aubrière MC, Lejeune JP, Caudron I, Guenon I, Viguié C, Wimel L, Bouraima-Lelong H, Serteyn D, Couturier-Tarrade A, Chavatte-Palmer P. Maternal obesity increases insulin resistance, low-grade inflammation and osteochondrosis lesions in foals and yearlings until 18 months of age.. PLoS One 2018;13(1):e0190309.
- Robles M, Gautier C, Mendoza L, Peugnet P, Dubois C, Dahirel M, Lejeune JP, Caudron I, Guenon I, Camous S, Tarrade A, Wimel L, Serteyn D, Bouraima-Lelong H, Chavatte-Palmer P. Maternal Nutrition during Pregnancy Affects Testicular and Bone Development, Glucose Metabolism and Response to Overnutrition in Weaned Horses Up to Two Years.. PLoS One 2017;12(1):e0169295.
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