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Pinzón-Osorio CA, Machado MA, Camozzato JNB, Dos Santos Velho G, Dalto AGC, Rovani MT, de Oliveira FC, Bertolini M. Inter-software reliability and agreement for follicular and luteal morphometric and echotextural ultrasonographic parameters in beef cattle. Anim Reprod Sci 2024; 267:107518. [PMID: 38889613 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2024.107518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
This study aimed to compare the inter-software and inter-observer reliability and agreement for the assessment of follicular and luteal morphometry and echotexture parameters in beef crossbreed females (3/8 Bos taurus indicus and 5/8 Bos taurus taurus). B-mode and color Doppler ultrasonographic ovarian images were obtained at specific time points of estradiol-progesterone-based protocols for timed artificial insemination (TAI). Sonograms were analyzed by two observers using a licensed (IASP1) and an open access (IASP2) software package. A total of 292 snap-shot sonograms were analyzed for morphometric parameters and 504 for echotexture parameters. inter-software reliability was judged moderate to excellent (ICC or CCC=0.73-0.98), whereas inter-observer reliability for morphometric parameters was deemed good to excellent (ICC or CCC=0.82-0.98). A small percentage (up to 10.95 %) of measured parameters fell outside the limits of inter-software and inter-observer agreement. For echotexture parameters, inter-software reliability varied widely (ICC or CCC=0.16-0.95) based on the size of regions of interest (ROI), while inter-observer reliability ranged from moderate to excellent (ICC or CCC= 0.71-0.97). The highest inter-software reliability for pixel value and heterogeneity value was observed for the corpus luteum (ICCs=0.81-0.95; P>0.05), followed by the peripheral follicular antrum (ICCs=0.75-0.78; P<0.05). However, lower reliability was determined for the follicular wall (ICCs=0.08-0.33; P<0.0001) and perifollicular stroma (ICCs=0.16-0.46; P<0.05). In conclusion, both software packages showed high reproducibility for morphometric measurements, while echotexture measurements were more challenging to replicate based on ROI sizes. Caution is advised when selecting ROI sizes for echotexture measurements in bovine ovaries.
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Affiliation(s)
- César Augusto Pinzón-Osorio
- Embryology and Reproductive Technology Lab, School of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | | | - Julia Nobre Blank Camozzato
- Embryology and Reproductive Technology Lab, School of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Research Group "Fisiopatologia e Biotécnicas da Reprodução Animal" (FiBRA), Large Ruminant Sector, Department of Animal Medicine, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Gabriella Dos Santos Velho
- Research Group "Fisiopatologia e Biotécnicas da Reprodução Animal" (FiBRA), Large Ruminant Sector, Department of Animal Medicine, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - André Gustavo Cabrera Dalto
- Research Group "Fisiopatologia e Biotécnicas da Reprodução Animal" (FiBRA), Large Ruminant Sector, Department of Animal Medicine, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Monique Tomazele Rovani
- Research Group "Fisiopatologia e Biotécnicas da Reprodução Animal" (FiBRA), Large Ruminant Sector, Department of Animal Medicine, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Fernando Caetano de Oliveira
- Embryology and Reproductive Technology Lab, School of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Research Group "Fisiopatologia e Biotécnicas da Reprodução Animal" (FiBRA), Large Ruminant Sector, Department of Animal Medicine, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Bertolini
- Embryology and Reproductive Technology Lab, School of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
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Spanner EA, de Graaf SP, Rickard JP. Factors affecting the success of laparoscopic artificial insemination in sheep. Anim Reprod Sci 2024; 264:107453. [PMID: 38547814 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2024.107453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 01/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Successful artificial breeding underpins rapid genetic and production gains in animal agriculture. In sheep, artificial insemination with frozen semen is performed via intrauterine laparoscopy as frozen-thawed spermatozoa do not traverse the cervix in sufficient numbers for high fertility and transcervical insemination is anatomically impossible in most ewes. Historically, laparoscopic artificial insemination has always been considered reasonably successful, but recent anecdotal reports of poor fertility place it at risk of warning adoption. Understanding the male, female and environmental factors that influence the fertility of sheep is warranted if the success of artificial insemination is to be improved and genetic progress maximised for the sheep industry. This review details the current practice of laparoscopic AI in sheep. It explores the effects of semen quantity and quality, the ewe, her preparation, and environmental conditions, on the fertility obtained following laparoscopic artificial insemination.
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Affiliation(s)
- E A Spanner
- The University of Sydney, Faculty of Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, NSW 2006, Australia.
| | - S P de Graaf
- The University of Sydney, Faculty of Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - J P Rickard
- The University of Sydney, Faculty of Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, NSW 2006, Australia
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