Introduction of a new fetal examination protocol for on-field and clinical equine practice.

This research invesigated two ultrasound-based techniques for assessing the health of unborn foals. The researchers found both the established Equine Biophysical Profile (EBP) and their newly developed Rapid Examination Protocol (REP) to have comparable accuracy, and both could effectively identify abnormalities in foals before birth.

Background

• The authors of the paper underline that prepartum surveillance is very important in both human and veterinary obstetrics to ensure the well-being of the fetus. In equine obstetrics, the current ‘gold standard’ is the equine biophysical profile (EBP), a test developed by Virginia Reef in 1995.
• Despite its widespread use, the EBP’s accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity hadn’t yet been thoroughly evaluated.

Methods

• The researchers studied 129 late-term pregnant mares, scanning each twice in the last month of their pregnancies. They used both the established EBP and a newly-developed test, the Rapid Examination Protocol (REP). The study design aimed to compare the accuracy of the two tests.
• The REP is a quicker process than the EBP and involves evaluating the fetal heart rate, fetal aortic diameter, and the combined thickness of the uteroplacental unit.

Results

• The two methods uncovered that 27 foals were compromised and 102 mares were carrying healthy, asymptomatic foals.
• Statistical analysis revealed that the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the EBP and the REP were quite close. EBP’s scores were 81.48%, 83.3%, and 82.95% respectively, while REP’s were slightly higher at 85.19%, 87.25%, and 86.82%.
• In addition, the researchers found statistically significant interchangeability between the EBP and the REP, suggesting either could be employed without significant loss of accuracy.

Conclusions

• The authors concluded that based on the prevalence of the disease or compromising conditions in the equine population studied, both the EBP and the REP are effective and reliable methods to diagnose fetal abnormalities in horses. Using either would help to ensure quality care for pregnant mares and their unborn foals.