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Reproduction in domestic animals = Zuchthygiene2022; 57(4); 343-348; doi: 10.1111/rda.14070

Recipients’ pregnancy rate was affected by season but not by the temperature-humidity index (THI) in an equine commercial ET programme in Southern Europe.

Abstract: This study retrospectively analysed the effects of different environmental factors such as the photoperiod, temperature/humidity index of 19 years of a commercial embryo transfer programme performed in central Italy. From 340 donors of different breeds and aged between 2 and 25 years, 576 embryos of an excellent or good quality were obtained by uterine flushing on days 7-8 after ovulation. The embryos were transferred to 259 recipients, aged between 2 and 16 years, and belonging to different breeds. Both the donors and the recipients were employed for several cycles/years. At the time of transfer, the recipients were in diestrus, from day 4 to day 8 after ovulation, and were classified as excellent or good based on clinical examination findings. Out of the total number of embryos transferred, 437 pregnancies were obtained at 14 days (75.9%), with 48/437 (10.1%) embryonic losses at 40 days; with no significant differences among years. Significant differences (p < .05) were observed between 14-day pregnancy rates for transfers performed during the spring transition and breeding seasons (77.1%) compared to those performed during the autumn transitional season (57.9%). No effect of temperature/humidity index was found on pregnancy rates or pregnancy losses after the transfer to the recipients (p > .05). Embryo transfer during autumn was less successful than the transfers performed during the spring transition and the breeding season.
© 2021 Wiley-VCH GmbH.
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Publication Date: 2022-01-04 PubMed ID: 34953153DOI: 10.1111/rda.14070Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research delves into the impact of seasonal variations and the temperature-humidity index (THI) on the success rate of commercial embryo transfer (ET) programs in horses in the southern part of Europe, specifically Italy.

Research Methodology

  • The study was a retrospective analysis focusing on the environmental factors like photoperiod and temperature/humidity index on commercial embryo transfer programmes done over 19 years.
  • The sample set included 340 donor horses of varied breeds, aged between 2 and 25 years. From these donors, 576 embryos of either excellent or good quality were obtained after flushing the uterus on seventh or eighth day after ovulation.
  • The study also involved 259 recipient horses aged between 2 and 16 years belonging to different breeds. Like the donors, these recipient horses were also used for multiple cycles or years.

Main Findings

  • At the time of transfer, the recipient horses were in diestrus, period after ovulation, between the fourth and eighth day, and were categorized as excellent to good based on the findings of their clinical examination.
  • Out of all transferred embryos, 437 or 75.9% resulted in pregnancies after two weeks, with 48 out of 437 or 10.1% experiencing embryonic losses after 40 days. These rates didn’t significantly differ year by year.
  • Significant differences were observed in the success rates of embryo transfers between different seasons. Transfers done during the spring transition and breeding seasons had a success rate of 77.1%, a notable improvement compared to 57.9% success during autumn transitional seasons.

Significance of Findings

  • The environmental temperature-humidity index was found to not significantly impact the pregnancy rates or pregnancy losses post-transfer. Despite seasonal variations in temperature and humidity, these factors didn’t seem to affect the success of the embryo transfer.
  • However, the season itself played a significant role in the success rate of the ET programs. The study indicates that embryo transfers performed during the autumn transitional season had a comparatively lower success rate than the transfers done during the spring and breeding seasons.

Cite This Article

APA
Fanelli D, Tesi M, Ingallinesi M, Camillo F, Panzani D. (2022). Recipients’ pregnancy rate was affected by season but not by the temperature-humidity index (THI) in an equine commercial ET programme in Southern Europe. Reprod Domest Anim, 57(4), 343-348. https://doi.org/10.1111/rda.14070

Publication

Reproduction in domestic animals = Zuchthygiene
ISSN: 1439-0531
NlmUniqueID: 9015668
Country: Germany
Language: English
Volume: 57
Issue: 4
Pages: 343-348

Researcher Affiliations

Fanelli, Diana
  • Veterinary Sciences Department, Veterinary Teaching Hospital "Mario Modenato", Pisa University, Pisa, Italy.
Tesi, Matteo
  • Veterinary Sciences Department, Veterinary Teaching Hospital "Mario Modenato", Pisa University, Pisa, Italy.
Ingallinesi, Martina
  • Veterinary Sciences Department, Veterinary Teaching Hospital "Mario Modenato", Pisa University, Pisa, Italy.
Camillo, Francesco
  • Veterinary Sciences Department, Veterinary Teaching Hospital "Mario Modenato", Pisa University, Pisa, Italy.
Panzani, Duccio
  • Veterinary Sciences Department, Veterinary Teaching Hospital "Mario Modenato", Pisa University, Pisa, Italy.

MeSH Terms

  • Abortion, Veterinary
  • Animals
  • Female
  • Horse Diseases
  • Horses
  • Humidity
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Rate
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Seasons
  • Temperature

Grant Funding

  • University of Pisa

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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. Alkhadrawy JMH, Aboelmaaty AM, Abou-Ahmed MM, Ghallab AM. Effect of breeding season and age on follicular dynamics and hemodynamics in embryo donor mares subjected to luteolysis after embryo flushing. Open Vet J 2024 Mar;14(3):852-865.
    doi: 10.5455/OVJ.2024.v14.i3.13pubmed: 38682132google scholar: lookup
  2. Mahmood K, Ali Channa A, Ghafoor A, Riaz A. Factors affecting the efficiency of equine embryo transfer (EET) in polo mares under subtropical conditions of Pakistan. PLoS One 2024;19(2):e0298066.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298066pubmed: 38346056google scholar: lookup
  3. Donato GG, Necchi D, Vandaele H, Vita ME, Bertero A, Vincenti L, Nervo T. Influence of Intrauterine Fluid Detection, Number of Transfers and Age of the Recipient on Pregnancy Rate and Early Embryonic Loss in a Commercial Embryo Transfer Program. Animals (Basel) 2023 May 29;13(11).
    doi: 10.3390/ani13111799pubmed: 37889745google scholar: lookup
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