Evidence‐based Medicine in Animal Reproduction

Abstract

With new knowledge being generated and published daily, the importance of evidence-based approaches in veterinary medicine is obvious. Clinicians must stay current or risk making poor decisions that clients may challenge. Especially in animal reproduction, several new substances and procedures to diagnose or treat reproductive disorders have been introduced in the last years. On the other hand, a closer look at the quality of published literature on animal reproduction reveals major deficits in methodology and reporting of many clinical trials. We strongly recommend systematically assessing the quality of scientific information when reading journal papers before using the given information in practice. The aim of evidence-based medicine (EBM) is to base the decisions in the practice of medicine on valid, clinically relevant research data. Therefore, we suggest that students should become familiar with the concepts of evidence-based veterinary medicine (EBVM) at the beginning of their veterinary education. Concepts and supporting tools such as checklists for literature assessment have been developed and validated. The purpose of this article is to review and discuss the importance of incorporating EBVM in animal reproduction. The need for further research that produces strong evidence in different fields of animal reproduction and better reporting of relevant study information is obvious.

Cystic ovaries and ovarian neoplasia in the female dog – a systematic review

“…Systematic research results on the clinical and reproductive features of ovarian disease are not available. Many publications are based on case reports (McEntee, ) that, in general, provide low evidence (Arlt & Heuwieser, , ). Also, studies with small sample sizes may provide biased impressions about the nature or presentation of a disease, if extreme or rare cases are frequently reported (Di Girolamo & Meursinge Reynders, ; Knauf et al., ).…”

“…Discrepancies concerning the prevalence of ovarian tumours, the age of onset, the breeds and histopathological types observed have also been reported by Sforna et al (2003). New and promising attempts have been made to immunohistochemical determine types of cysts and tumours (Banco, Antuofermo, Borzacchiello, Cossu-Rocca, & Grieco, 2011 (Arlt & Heuwieser, 2014. Also, studies with small sample sizes may provide biased impressions about the nature or presentation of a disease, if extreme or rare cases are frequently reported (Di Girolamo & Meursinge Reynders, 2016;Knauf et al, 2014).…”

Lack of effects of an equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) administration between days 9 and 15 postpartum on reproductive performance in a Holstein dairy herd

“…In conclusion, an eCG treatment of postpartum dairy cows between 9 and 15 DIM to increase reproductive performance cannot be recommended under the given circumstances, especially against the background of an increasing public scepticism concerning the use of hormones in modern farming (Refsdal, ). In general, hormonal treatment strategies in livestock should only be used in the framework of evidence‐based veterinary medicine (Arlt and Heuwieser ) and certainly not to solve or mask management problems (Refsdal, ). Thus, further research (preferably multi‐centric studies and subsequent meta‐analyses) is necessary to determine an appropriate point in time for an early postpartum eCG administration and to identify herd‐ or animal‐specific factors that can be predictors of beneficial effects of an early postpartum eCG treatment on following reproductive performance.…”

“…In conclusion, an eCG treatment of postpartum dairy cows between 9 and 15 DIM to increase reproductive performance cannot be recommended under the given circumstances, especially against the background of an increasing public scepticism concerning the use of hormones in modern farming (Refsdal, 2000). In general, hormonal treatment strategies in livestock should only be used in the framework of evidence-based veterinary medicine (Arlt and Heuwieser 2014) and certainly not to solve or mask management problems (Refsdal, 2000).…”

The staircase of evidence – a new metaphor displaying the core principles of Evidence-based Veterinary Medicine

“…Veterinary practitioners have to use optimal diagnostics, interventions and medications to examine and to treat their patients (Arlt et al, 2014). Additionally, an inherent responsibility of veterinary medicine is the protection of human health via caring for livestock and its reproduction.…”