Hydrallantois in the mare–a report of five cases.
Abstract: Hydrallantois in the mare is a very rare condition, and clinical reports help to gather information to elucidate its pathogenesis, treatment options and prognosis. Five different cases of hydrallantois in the mare are reported in this article, all with the involvement of placentitis. The five mares were presented because of acute distention of the abdomen, dyspnoea, stiff gait and a lack of appetite. After a gradual release of the excessive amount of allantoic fluid, an abortion was induced in all five mares. The foals were either born dead or euthanized. The mares recovered quickly. One mare conceived within the same season, one remained barren despite several cycles of natural breeding, and no data were available on the other three mares. In this series, the condition is reported for the first time in two Shetland ponies, both pregnant with foals sharing a close genetic background. In both cases, the condition led to hyperlipidemia. The condition as it occurs in nulliparous mares is also discussed. Finally, the possible involvement of placentitis in the pathogenesis is emphasized.
© 2012 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.
Publication Date: 2012-03-27 PubMed ID: 23317156DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0531.2012.02013.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research paper discusses a rare condition in mares, hydrallantois, through the study of five individual cases. All five cases were associated with placentitis. The indications of the condition were abdominal distention, stiff walking, difficulty breathing, and loss of appetite. After the excessive allantoic fluid was slowly released, abortion was performed on all five subjects. The offspring were either stillborn or had to be euthanized. Despite the condition, mares showed a fast recovery rate. The future fertility varied among the subjects. The paper also introduces the occurrence of this condition in Shetland ponies and nulliparous mares.
Hydrallantois Condition in the Mare
- Hydrallantois is a rare medical condition observed in pregnant mares. The condition is characterized by the excessive accumulation of allantoic fluid in the allantoic cavity of the mare which causes acute abdominal distention.
- The research reports five cases of hydrallantois in mares, all presented with similar symptoms such as an engorged belly, difficulty breathing, stiff gait, and a decreased appetite.
- In all cases, a slow process was taken to release the excess allantoic fluid to ease the symptoms, post which an abortion was induced. This was necessary as the condition usually results in a dead or unviable foal.
Recovery & Fertility Post Treatment
- Following the treatment, the mares were observed to recover swiftly. However, their fertility varied considerably after their recovery.
- One of the mares conceived within the same breeding season after the treatment, but one remained barren despite several attempts of natural breeding.
- For the other three mares, post-treatment fertility information was unavailable.
Occurrence in Shetland Ponies
- The research draws attention to the presence of hydrallantois in two Shetland ponies who were pregnant with foals having a close genetic relationship.
- In both instances, the condition triggered hyperlipidemia, a condition where there’s an unusual increase in the concentration of fats or lipids in the blood.
Connection with Placentitis
- The study also underscores the potential involvement of placentitis, an inflammation of the placenta, in the emergence of hydrallantois, as it was found to be a common factor in all the reported cases.
Incidence in Nulliparous Mares
- The article also explores the occurrence of hydrallantois in nulliparous mares – mares that have never given birth to a foal before.
Cite This Article
APA
Govaere JL, De Schauwer C, Hoogewijs MK, Chiers K, Lefère L, Catry B, Roels K, van Heerden M, Broeckx S, de Kruif A.
(2012).
Hydrallantois in the mare–a report of five cases.
Reprod Domest Anim, 48(1), e1-e6.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0531.2012.02013.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Departments of Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ghent, Merelbeke, Belgium.
MeSH Terms
- Abortion, Veterinary
- Allantois / pathology
- Animals
- Female
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Placenta Diseases / pathology
- Placenta Diseases / veterinary
- Pregnancy
- Stillbirth
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Mitchell ARM, Delvescovo B, Tse M, Crouch EE, Cheong SH, Castillo JM, Felippe MJB, Ainsworth DM, de Amorim MD. Successful management of hydrallantois in a Standardbred mare at term resulting in the birth of a live foal. Can Vet J 2019 May;60(5):495-501.
- Peere S, Van den Branden E, Broothaers K, Polfliet E, Smits K, Govaere J. Birth of a Healthy Monozygotic Twin Foal with Hydrops and a Dead Co-Twin. Vet Sci 2024 Dec 13;11(12).
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