Ultrasonography of Pregnancy in Murciano-Granadina Goat Breed: Fetal Growth Indices and Umbilical Artery Doppler Parameters

Abstract

The evolution of some fetal growth indices and arterial blood flow parameters in the umbilical cord of the embryos and fetuses of primiparous pregnant goats of Murciano-Granadina breed were analyzed by ultrasonography. Weekly ultrasonographic sessions took place from 18- to 125-days post-breeding. Fetal measures were carried out by ultrasound B-mode. This mode was used to take a series of measurements in the embryo/fetus throughout pregnancy: crown-rump length (CRL, from 24-days post-mating -dpm- to 61 dpm), trunk diameter (TD, 24–34 dpm), biparietal diameter (BPD, 28–125 dpm) and eye orbit diameter (EOD, 75–125 dpm). Spectral Doppler was used to study blood flow from umbilical artery. Different blood flow parameters were obtained as follows: Arterial Pulse, Peak Systolic Velocity (PSV), End Diastolic Velocity (EDV), Mean Velocity (MV), Systolic velocity/Diastolic velocity Ratio (S/D), Pulsatility Index (PI) and Resistance Index (RI). In this study, the umbilical cord was first noticed between 32- and 35-days post-breeding. However, these umbilical arterial blood flow parameters were not conclusive (positive S/D ratios and RI < 1) until 65–80 days of pregnancy. The explanation to these results could be that vascular development related to umbilical arteries elasticity and diameter is not good enough in early pregnancy. Therefore, these vessels have already acquired their appropriate characteristics in order to allow blood flow parameters and Doppler index measures from only 2.5 months of pregnancy. This is the first time that a detailed study of fetal growth indices and umbilical artery flow rates in fetuses from Murciano-Granadina goats has been performed throughout virtually the entire duration of gestation. In conclusion, the evolution of the fetal growth indices in this breed has determined that the umbilical artery velocimetric parameters (PSV, EDV, MV) increase significantly and the AP, S/D, PI and RI indices decrease significantly throughout the analyzed pregnancy period.

Emotional temperaments in advanced pregnant goats and its relationship with the feto-maternal blood flow and placentome echotexture

“…To enable better visualization and assessment of the umbilical artery and fetal structures by ultrasonography, goats’ ventral abdominal surfaces (from the area next to the udder to the last rib) were clipped and shaved one day prior to the assessment day to avoid the effect of such stressor on the measured parameters in the first evaluation. Goats were examined after laying laterally (Gonzalez-Bulnes et al 2010 ; Ramírez-González et al 2023 ) on a comfortable mat table and restrained carefully by an assistant to avoid the compression of the aorta. Examinations were started abdominally to evaluate the hemodynamic changes of the UMA and FA following previous studies (Serin et al 2010 ; ElMetwally et al 2016a ).…”