Mortality determination and gender identification of conceptuses in pregnancies of Santa Ines ovine by ultrasound

Abstract

The aim of this study was to monitor early gestation in Santa Ines ewes by ultrasound in order to determine embryo and foetal loss, and to identify foetal sex. Ewes (n = 132) were submitted to controlled natural mating. For the purpose of pregnancy diagnosis and embryo monitoring we used transrectal ultrasound with a linear transducer (6.0 and 8.0 MHz). Pregnancy was diagnosed on day 30. On day 35 ultrasound examination was performed to determine embryo viability or loss. On days 40, 50 and 60 ultrasound examination was used to monitor foetal loss and to determine foetal sex, through identification of the genital tubercle or any external genital structure. Out of 118 pregnant ewes, 76 (64.4%) presented single pregnancy and 42 (35.6%) multiple pregnancy. Embryonic deaths occurred in 10.0% of the 160 monitored embryos: 5.6% (9/160) occurred during the embryonic phase and 4.4% (7/160) during the foetal phase, with no significant difference between them. Embryo loss was significantly lower in single pregnancies (3.9%, 3/76) compared to multiple pregnancies (15.5%, 13/84). Sexing accuracy on day 40 was significantly lower than on day 60. There was no difference between days 40 and 50, and between days 50 and 60. This study on Santa Ines sheep shows that ultrasound is a highly effective method for diagnosis of early pregnancy, determination of embryo and foetal loss, as well as foetal sexing after day 50 of pregnancy.

Monitoring of embryonic and fetal losses in different breeds of goats using real-time B-mode ultrasonography

“…13 present study during the embryonic period compared with those occurred during the fetal period was 318 consistent with those reported in other studies in sheep [7, 8,15], and cattle [17,18]. For examples, in 319 sheep, Moraes et al [8] observed a higher embryonic loss of 10 % between D30-40 and fetal loss 320 percentage of 4.4% between D40-60.…”

“…For examples, in 319 sheep, Moraes et al [8] observed a higher embryonic loss of 10 % between D30-40 and fetal loss 320 percentage of 4.4% between D40-60. Recently, it was found that the late embryonic death rate 321 between days 20 and 40 was substantially higher (p<0.05) than the fetal mortality rate in sheep [15].…”

“…Moreover, most previous studies that carried out on small ruminant were focused on a single 68 ultrasonographic scanning during gestation length and comparing it to the birth records [3,6,8]. 69…”

Embryonic mortality in sheep: a review

“…Indications of ovine embryonic death were observed via ultrasonography by Barbagianni et al [25] when there was shrinkage of the embryo, absence of fetal heartbeat and movements later followed by a lack of anechoic fluids, and disappearance of previously observed placentomes. Moraes et al [26] found 10% embryonic loss from among the 160 Santa Ines ewes studied using ultrasonographic analysis. Also noteworthy is that the mortality rates were significantly lower in single pregnancies as compared to multiple pregnancies.…”

Subsequent Fertility of Goats with Prenatal Mortality Diagnosed by Ultrasound and Treated by PGF2α and Oxytetracycline

“…Economic losses resulting from fetal death are substantial since they include not only the loss of offspring but also a prolonged open period for the dam leading to increased culling rates [4]. The high rate of embryonic loss (25–40%) in domestic species during early pregnancy may result in false positive diagnosis [6]. The causes of fetal death are multifactorial and can be divided broadly into infectious and non-infectious origin with the most frequently detected infectious agents being bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites.…”