Transrectal ultrasonography of the caudal placental pole and fetal eyeball diameter and associations with the season, duration of gestation, placental weight, sex of the foal, and birthweight in donkeys☆.
Abstract: This study aimed to establish normal ranges and determine variables affecting the duration of gestation, placental and fetal eyeball measurements in donkeys. Jennies (n = 121) were submitted to transrectal ultrasonography at 15-day-intervals from 120 days of gestation until parturition. During each examination, variables assessed included: the combined thickness of uterus and placenta (CTUP), fetal eyeball diameter, amniotic membrane thickness, allantoic and amniotic fluids echogenicity, and chorioallantois edema. Parametric data were analyzed with t-test, linear regression, mixed models, ANOVA, Tukey's as posthoc, and non-parametric data with Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn's. Statistical significance was set at P < .05. The mean duration of gestation was 365.4 ± 10.4 days, and there were effects of the season (P < .001), sex of the foal (P = .001), but there was no interaction (P = .89). Spring-bred jennies had 16d longer gestation than summer- and fall-bred (P < .0001), and with no difference between the latter (P = .81). Colts had four days longer gestation than fillies (P = .0001). The proportion of colts (51%) and fillies (49%) were similar (P = .8). The CTUP measurements varied with gestation age (P < .0001), but there were no effects of the season (P = .68), sex of the foal, or interactions (P = .80). The incidence and scores of chorioallantois edema increased from 240 to 300 days (P < .001). Amniotic membrane thickness increased minimally between mid- and late-gestation (P = .02). The fetal eyeball was strongly associated with gestational age (r=0.78) but not with any other variable (P > .05). Allantoic fluid echogenicity did not vary throughout gestation (P = .21); however, the amniotic fluid echogenicity increased from mid-to late-gestation (P = .0001). In conclusion, the season and sex of the foal affected the duration of gestation, but no other variables. The CTUP displayed a sigmoid increase throughout pregnancy, and gestational age was the only variable affecting it. The incidence of chorioallantois edema and scores increased from 240 to 300 days of gestation. Fetal eyeball diameter was strongly associated with gestational age. Amniotic fluid echogenicity increased late in pregnancy, but not the allantoic fluid.
Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Inc.
Publication Date: 2022-03-17 PubMed ID: 35307549DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2022.103936Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research aimed to assess the variables affecting gestational period, placental and fetal features in donkeys via transrectal ultrasonography. It established that season and sex of the foal influence gestation duration while gestational age impacts other measurements examined.
Objective and Methodology
- The purpose of the research was to understand normal ranges and define influencing factors for duration of gestation, as well as placental and fetal eyeball measurements in donkeys.
- 121 Jennies (female donkeys) were examined using transrectal ultrasonography every 15 days starting from 120 days of gestation until the birth of the foal.
- The measurements considered during each examination included the combined thickness of the uterus and placenta (CTUP), the diameter of the fetal eyeball, amniotic membrane thickness, echogenicity of allantoic and amniotic fluids, and chorioallantois edema.
Results
- The average gestation period was about 365.4 days. It was affected by the season, sex of the foal, but showed no interaction between these two variables.
- Jennies bred in spring had a gestation period longer by 16 days compared to those bred in summer and fall.
- Male foals had a longer gestation period by four days compared to female foals.
- CTUP measurements varied with the gestational age but were not affected by the season, the sex of the foal, or other interactions.
- Instances of chorioallantois edema were noticed to increase from 240 to 300 days of gestation.
- The thickness of the amniotic membrane showed minimal increase between mid and late gestation stages.
- The fetal eyeball diameter had a strong association with the gestational age, but no other variable.
- While the echogenicity of allantoic fluid did not vary throughout gestation, the echogenicity of the amniotic fluid showed an increase from mid to late gestation.
Conclusions
- This study concludes that the season and sex of the foal dramatically impacted the gestation period in donkeys, but they did not affect other variables.
- CTUP, influenced only by gestational age, displayed an increase in a sigmoid pattern throughout pregnancy.
- The chorioallantois edema incidence and score increased notably from 240 to 300 days of gestation.
- The diameter of the fetal eyeball had a strong correlation with gestational age.
- The echogenicity of the amniotic fluid escalated towards the later stages of pregnancy, but the allantoic fluid did not exhibit such a change.
Cite This Article
APA
Magalhaes HB, Canisso IF.
(2022).
Transrectal ultrasonography of the caudal placental pole and fetal eyeball diameter and associations with the season, duration of gestation, placental weight, sex of the foal, and birthweight in donkeys☆.
J Equine Vet Sci, 113, 103936.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2022.103936 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana- Champaign, Urbana, IL.
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana- Champaign, Urbana, IL. Electronic address: canisso@illinois.edu.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Birth Weight
- Equidae
- Female
- Horses
- Male
- Parturition
- Placenta / diagnostic imaging
- Pregnancy
- Seasons
- Ultrasonography / veterinary
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