The objective of this study was to establish baseline ultrasound informations for mule conceptuses during early pregnancy. Eight multiparous Trotter mares were artificially inseminated with chilled semen from an Amiatino Jack donkey. Daily transrectal ultrasonography was carried out from ovulation until day 50 of gestation using a 5-MHz linear array transducer. Uterine diameter, location of the embryonic vesicle (EV), EV diameter, day of EV fixation, changes in EV shape, date of yolk sac regression and embryo crown-rump length were recorded. All the mares conceived and nine EV were detected; early embryonic death of one EV occurred in a mare carrying twins at day 23 of pregnancy, although the co-twin survived. Embryonic death also occurred in one mare carrying a singleton EV at day 26 of pregnancy. The EV was first detected on day 9.5 ± 1.51 (diameter 4.6 ± 1.11 mm). Fixation occurred on day 17.3 ± 1.32 (EV diameter averaging 2.52 ± 0.15 cm). The embryo proper was first detected on day 19.87 ± 2.74 (average length 2.39 ± 0.95 mm) and the embryonic heartbeat was first detected on day 24 ± 2.7. There were no significant differences between singletons and twins, in either EV diameter or fixation day. Thus EV growth patterns do not differ significantly between donkey, horse and mule conceptuses. However mule EVs are detected earlier in gestation than in the other two types of equine pregnancy.
Ultrasonic assessment of mule conceptus during early pregnancy in trotter mares
PAOLUCCI, MARCO;BORGAMI, SIMONA;DEGL'INNOCENTI, Stefano;MONACI, Maurizio
2006
Abstract
The objective of this study was to establish baseline ultrasound informations for mule conceptuses during early pregnancy. Eight multiparous Trotter mares were artificially inseminated with chilled semen from an Amiatino Jack donkey. Daily transrectal ultrasonography was carried out from ovulation until day 50 of gestation using a 5-MHz linear array transducer. Uterine diameter, location of the embryonic vesicle (EV), EV diameter, day of EV fixation, changes in EV shape, date of yolk sac regression and embryo crown-rump length were recorded. All the mares conceived and nine EV were detected; early embryonic death of one EV occurred in a mare carrying twins at day 23 of pregnancy, although the co-twin survived. Embryonic death also occurred in one mare carrying a singleton EV at day 26 of pregnancy. The EV was first detected on day 9.5 ± 1.51 (diameter 4.6 ± 1.11 mm). Fixation occurred on day 17.3 ± 1.32 (EV diameter averaging 2.52 ± 0.15 cm). The embryo proper was first detected on day 19.87 ± 2.74 (average length 2.39 ± 0.95 mm) and the embryonic heartbeat was first detected on day 24 ± 2.7. There were no significant differences between singletons and twins, in either EV diameter or fixation day. Thus EV growth patterns do not differ significantly between donkey, horse and mule conceptuses. However mule EVs are detected earlier in gestation than in the other two types of equine pregnancy.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
