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Equine veterinary journal2024; 56(4); 742-750; doi: 10.1111/evj.14055

The equine umbilical cord in clinically healthy pregnancies.

Abstract: Excessive umbilical cord length (UCL) is associated with equine pregnancy loss. However, a lack of UCL reference values makes it difficult to define excessive UCL. Further, factors associated with differences in UCL are poorly understood. Objective: To (i) report the total, allantoic and amniotic UCL in healthy term pregnancies in Thoroughbreds, (ii) describe the relationship between gestational age and UCL, fetal weight and crown rump length (CRL) using clinically normal pregnancies (CNPs) from mares dying during gestation, and (iii) identify associations between UCL and maternal age and parity, paternal age, and fetal sex. Methods: Cross-sectional. Methods: Data including UCLs, fetal weight, CRL and maternal age, parity, paternal age and fetal sex were taken from CNPs from Thoroughbred mares dying during gestation (n = 32), and placentas from HTPs (n = 34) in England. Correlations were assessed using Spearman's rank with significant correlations estimated by locally weighted scatter plot smoothing (LOWESS). Regression plots were fitted to highly correlated variables to further assess and quantify relationships. Differences in UCL between categorical variables were assessed using Kruskall Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests. Results: The median total, amniotic and allantoic HTP UCLs were 53.5 cm (interquartile range [IQR] 16), 29.5 cm (IQR 7) and 25.0 cm (IQR 8) respectively. Gestational age and amniotic UCL were moderately correlated (rho = 0.53, p = 0.04), with LOWESS estimating an exponential increase followed by plateauing at around Day 200. Nonlinear associations were observed between fetal weight and gestational age and CRL (adjusted r2 = 0.98 and 0.95 respectively). A linear association was observed between gestational age and CRL: predicted CRL = -17.60 + 0.38 × gestational age, p < 0.001. Conclusions: Limited availability of CNPs from mares dying during gestation. Estimated relationships can only approximate growth. Conclusions: This study provides important UCL and fetal size reference values, which may aid in assessing abnormalities. For the first time, associations between UCL and gestational age have been described.
© 2024 The Authors. Equine Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2024-01-14 PubMed ID: 38219774DOI: 10.1111/evj.14055Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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This research studied the umbilical cord length (UCL) in healthy thoroughbred horse pregnancies and its relation to factors like gestational age, fetal weight and crown rump length, maternal age and parity, paternal age, and fetal sex. Conclusions reveal some correlation between UCL and gestational age along with necessary reference values for UCL and fetal size that could aid in diagnosing abnormalities.

Research Methodology

  • The study was cross-sectional and collected data from clinically normal pregnancies, centered around Thoroughbred horses.
  • The data set included information about UCLs, fetal weight, crown rump length (CRL), maternal age, parity, paternal age and fetal sex.
  • This data was collected from Thoroughbred mares that died during their gestation period.
  • The statistical methods used to investigate the correlations included the application of Spearman’s rank with the significance of correlations estimated by locally weighted scatter plot smoothing (LOWESS).
  • Regression plots were applied to highly correlated variables to further scrutinise and quantify relationships.

Results of the Research

  • The median total, amniotic and allantoic High Thaw Point (HTP) UCLs were recorded at 53.5 cm, 29.5 cm and 25.0 cm respectively.
  • A moderate correlation was found between gestational age and amniotic UCL by using LOWESS, indicating an exponential increase till around Day 200, followed by a plateau.
  • Nonlinear associations were discovered between fetal weight and factors like gestational age and crown rump length (CRL).
  • A linear association was observed between gestational age and CRL using the given formula for predicted CRL: predicted CRL = -17.60 + 0.38 × gestational age.

Conclusions Drawn

  • A bottleneck was the limited availability of clinically normal pregnancies from the mares that died during gestation.
  • The relationships estimated can only help approximate the growth.
  • This research contributes significant reference values for UCL and fetal size that could assist in identifying abnormalities in Thoroughbred pregnancies.
  • A first in its field, this study found associations between umbilical cord length and gestational age.

Cite This Article

APA
Lawson JM, Verheyen K, Smith KC, Bryan JS, Foote AK, de Mestre AM. (2024). The equine umbilical cord in clinically healthy pregnancies. Equine Vet J, 56(4), 742-750. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14055

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 56
Issue: 4
Pages: 742-750

Researcher Affiliations

Lawson, Jessica M
  • Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Hertfordshire, UK.
  • Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Hertfordshire, UK.
Verheyen, Kristien
  • Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Hertfordshire, UK.
Smith, Ken C
  • Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Hertfordshire, UK.
Bryan, Jill S
  • Rossdales Laboratories, Suffolk, UK.
Foote, Alastair K
  • Rossdales Laboratories, Suffolk, UK.
de Mestre, Amanda M
  • Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Hertfordshire, UK.

MeSH Terms

  • Horses / physiology
  • Animals
  • Female
  • Pregnancy
  • Umbilical Cord
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Male
  • Pregnancy, Animal / physiology

Grant Funding

  • Alborada Trust

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Li L, Li S, Ma H, Akhtar MF, Tan Y, Wang T, Liu W, Khan A, Khan MZ, Wang C. An Overview of Infectious and Non-Infectious Causes of Pregnancy Losses in Equine. Animals (Basel) 2024 Jul 2;14(13).
    doi: 10.3390/ani14131961pubmed: 38998073google scholar: lookup
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