[Pregnancy diagnosis in thoroughbred mares using radioimmunoassay (RIA), enzyme immunoassay (kit) and ultrasound echography (scanning)].

This research explores the use of radioimmunoassay (RIA), enzyme immunoassay (kit) and ultrasound echography (scanning) for diagnosing pregnancy in thoroughbred mares. The study finds these methods to be effective, with results frequently in agreement.

Study Procedure

• The study was conducted on a total of 31 mares.
• Pregnancy was determined based on progesterone levels in the plasma or blood, using both RIA (Radioimmunoassay) and kit methods.
• Simultaneously, consecutive scanning using ultrasound echography was performed.

Study Findings

• Out of the total 31 mares, embryonic vesicles indicating pregnancy were found in 20 mares which is approximately 64.5% of the total sample size.
• Out of these pregnant mares, 16 conceived after service in the first estrous cycle and 3 mares in the second estrous cycle.
• Most of these pregnant mares (18 out of 20) were scanned within the interval of the 13th to the 26th day after the latest service. The remaining two were scanned on day 41 and 46 respectively.
• The RIA and kit methods were in agreement with the scanning results for a sample of 14 mares. That is, if a mare was found to be pregnant via scanning, the RIA and kit methods also confirmed the pregnancy.

Anomalies

• For a small group of mares (approximately 10), where scanning did not indicate pregnancy, both the RIA and the kit method were used. In 6 of these cases, results were in agreement across all three methods.
• However, in 2 mares (no. 2 and 4), there was a discrepancy between the results of the RIA, kit, and scanning during the second estrous cycle.
• In one mare (no. 7), a discrepancy was observed in the first and third estrous cycles between the RIA method and the scanning results.