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Ultrasound confirmation of ovulation in mares: a normal corpus luteum or a haemorrhagic anovulatory follicle?
Abstract: The most common pathological anovulatory condition that occurs spontaneously during the breeding season in the mare is the haemorrhagic anovulatory follicle (HAF). A relatively high proportion of mares, soon after ovulation, develop a corpus haemorrhagicum (CH) with a central lacuna. This type of corpora lutea may resemble an HAF, which may complicate the accurate diagnosis of ovulation. The main objective of this study was to compare the ultrasound data of mares examined frequently with HAFs and CHs to elucidate whether it is possible to distinguish them from each other. A total of 135 ovulating mares were classified according to the morphology of the corpus luteum (CL) in mares with: a solid CL, a CH with small or with large central cavities. Ultrasound characteristics of the development of 11 HAF and 13 CHs with a large central cavity were compared. The pre-ovulatory follicular diameter of ovulatory mares was significantly correlated with the diameter of CH with large central cavities. The percentage of mares with post-ovulatory areas eligible to be mistaken with a CH was <25%. Although a predictive diagnosis of an HAF/CH can be made on the basis of several ultrasonographic endpoints, the only parameter that allows a definitive diagnosis is the thickness of the luteal border. This is 5 mm in CHs. However, this only applies when the unidentified structure has non-organized contents.
© 2012 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.
Publication Date: 2012-05-18 PubMed ID: 22594445DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0531.2012.02039.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
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The study examines the potential of ultrasound in distinguishing between two distinct but often confused conditions in mares – the haemorrhagic anovulatory follicle and the normal corpus luteum with blood-filled centre. Comparing ultrasound data of 135 ovulating mares, researchers found that the thickness of the luteal border is the only definitive determiner. It is less than 3mm in haemorrhagic anovulatory follicles and more than 5mm in normal corpus luteum.
Key Objectives
- The primary intention of this research was to utilize and compare ultrasound data from mares diagnosed with haemorrhagic anovulatory follicles (HAFs) and corpus haemorrhagicum (CH) to determine if these conditions can be differentiated.
- The team aimed to classify 135 ovulating mares based on the morphology of the corpus luteum–a solid corpus luteum, a CH with either small or large central cavities.
- The study also attempted to find what proportion of mares might be inaccurately diagnosed with a CH post-ovulation.
Research Approach
- Ultrasound characteristics of 11 HAFs and 13 CHs were studied and compared to empirically decipher if these two conditions can be efficiently separated based on their traits.
- The experts established a correlation between the diameter of the pre-ovulatory follicular part of the mares and the diameter of the CH with large central cavities.
- The researchers dedicatedly pursued the ultrasonic details to devise a methodological basis for predicting a diagnosis of either an HAF or a CH.
Findings of the Study
- The number of mares prone to a misdiagnosis as CH carriers post-ovulation was found to be less than 25%. This implies that the likelihood of such misdiagnoses happening is relatively lower.
- While several ultrasonographic endpoints can help predict if the mare may develop an HAF or a CH, the most decisive criterion is the thickness of the luteal border—it is less than 3mm thick in HAFs, whereas in the case of CHs, it is more than 5mm.
- However, the thickness metric is only applicable when the unidentified structure in question has non-organized contents.
Cite This Article
APA
Cuervo-Arango J, Newcombe JR.
(2012).
Ultrasound confirmation of ovulation in mares: a normal corpus luteum or a haemorrhagic anovulatory follicle?
Reprod Domest Anim, 48(1), 105-111.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0531.2012.02039.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Departamento de Medicina y Cirugía Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera, Valencia, Spain. juan.cuervo@uch.ceu.es
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Anovulation / diagnosis
- Anovulation / pathology
- Anovulation / veterinary
- Corpus Luteum / diagnostic imaging
- Female
- Hemorrhage / diagnosis
- Hemorrhage / diagnostic imaging
- Hemorrhage / pathology
- Hemorrhage / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / diagnostic imaging
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Ovulation / physiology
- Ultrasonography
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Requena F, Campos MJAPM, Martínez Marín AL, Camacho R, Giráldez-Pérez RM, Agüera EI. Assessment of Age Effects on Ovarian Hemodynamics Using Doppler Ultrasound and Progesterone Concentrations in Cycling Spanish Purebred Mares. Animals (Basel) 2021 Aug 8;11(8).
- Wilsterman K, Bautista AI, Butler CE, Juergens MY, Larson AM. Evolution of Litter Size: Proximate and Ultimate Mechanisms. Integr Comp Biol 2024 Dec 20;64(6):1643-1660.
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