Feasibility of continuous recording of fetal heart rate in the near term bovine fetus by means of transabdominal Doppler

Noninfectious Causes of Pregnancy Loss at the Late Embryonic/Early Fetal Stage in Dairy Cattle

In cattle, initial pregnancy diagnosis takes place during the late embryonic/early fetal stage of gestation. From this point onward, pregnancy loss may occur in up to one fifth of pregnancies before the initial pregnancy diagnosis is confirmed. This means the early identification of risk factors is a key part of pregnancy diagnosis and herd management. The various factors responsible for pregnancy losses are classified into infectious and noninfectious. Among the noninfectious causes, several dam-related (circumstances of the individual pregnancy or milk production) and herd-related factors causing stress have been well established. In this review, we summarize the impacts of these noninfectious factors and predict associated risks of pregnancy loss.

Importance of Monitoring Fetal and Neonatal Vitality in Bovine Practices

Prior to initiating any obstetrical intervention for anterior or posterior presentation, it is imperative to emphasize the need for a precise and accurate diagnosis of fetal viability and to select the most appropriate approach for assistance. In uncertain cases, diagnostic tools such as ultrasonography, pulse oximeter, or measurement of acid-base balance or lactate concentration may be employed to confirm the diagnosis. In situations of severe asphyxia, a cesarean section is preferred over traction, even if the duration of asphyxia is less than 60 s, to maximize the likelihood of the survival of the fetus. Postcalving, several vitality scores have been proposed to evaluate the vigor of the newborn calf. Originally, four different clinical signs were recommended for assessing the well-being of newborn calves. Subsequently, five or more different clinical signs were recommended to evaluate vitality. However, despite the efforts for devising a practical tool to assess newborn calf vitality; a user-friendly and highly accurate instrument that can be used on farms remains elusive. Measuring the acid-base balance or lactate concentration may increase the diagnostic accuracy. It is critical to emphasize the importance of reducing the incidence of dystocia to mitigate the occurrence of severe asphyxia. In instances where asphyxia is unavoidable, adequate treatments should be administered to minimize losses.

Transabdominal color doppler ultrasonography: A relevant approach for assessment of effects of uterine torsion in buffaloes

AIM

The present study was conducted on advanced pregnant buffaloes suffering from uterine torsion to assess the status of fetus and uterus by transabdominal ultrasonography, and the findings were compared with normal advanced pregnant buffaloes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study was conducted on 20 clinical cases of uterine torsion and 20 normal advanced pregnant buffaloes (control group). The lower ventral area just lateral to linea alba (on both sides of the udder) in standing animals was scanned transabdominally by the two-dimensional convex transducer for various ultrasonographic findings. The data collected were statistically analyzed by "one-way ANOVA" and "independent sample t-test" using computerized SPSS 16.0 software program.

RESULTS

Transabdominal ultrasonography revealed dead fetus in 95% uterine torsion cases and proved useful in imaging internal structures of fetuses while no dead fetus was reported in the control group. Size of umbilicus was found significantly decreased (p<0.05) in uterine torsion group in comparison to control animals, but the decrease in placentomal area was marginal (p>0.05) in uterine torsion group. Average thickness of the uterine wall and mean pixel values of fetal fluids (echogenicity) were found significantly increased (p<0.05) in uterine torsion affected buffaloes in comparison to control group.

CONCLUSION

Status of fetus (whether live or dead), internal status of uterus, and its contents could be determined by transabdominal ultrasonography in uterine torsion cases and thus determining the prognosis of the uterine torsion cases before going for further manipulations. This will also help in taking all the precautions to avoid death of the fetus.

Heart rate and heart rate variability in pregnant dairy cows and their fetuses determined by fetomaternal electrocardiography

In this study, fetomaternal electrocardiograms were recorded once weekly in cattle during the last 14 weeks of gestation. From the recorded beat-to-beat (RR) intervals, heart rate and heart rate variability (HRV) variables standard deviation of the RR interval (SDRR) and root mean square of successive RR differences (RMSSD) were calculated. To differentiate between effects of lactation and gestation, pregnant lactating (PL) cows (n = 7) and pregnant nonlactating (PNL) heifers (n = 8) were included. We hypothesized that lactation is associated with stress detectable by HRV analysis. We also followed the hypothesis that heart rate and HRV are influenced by growth and maturation of the fetus toward term. Maternal heart rate changed over time in both groups, and in PL cows, it decreased with drying-off. During the last 5 weeks of gestation, maternal heart rate increased in both groups but was lower in PL cows than in PNL heifers. Maternal HRV did not change over time, but SDRR was significantly higher in PL cows than in PNL heifers, and significant interactions of group × time existed. On the basis of HRV, undisturbed pregnancies are thus no stressor for the dam in cattle. Fetal heart rate decreased from week 14 to week 1 before birth with no difference between groups. Gestational age thus determines heart rate in the bovine fetus. The HRV variables SDRR and RMSSD increased toward the end of gestation in fetuses carried by cows but not in those carried by heifers. The increase in HRV indicates maturation of fetal cardiac regulation which may be overrun by high sympathoadrenal activity in fetuses carried by heifers as suggested by their low HRV.

Transabdominal ultrasonographic evaluation of fetal well-being in the late-term mare and cow

In the equine practice, attempts have been made to examine the fetus in the second and third trimester of pregnancy but all of the available methods have limitations. Until now, transabdominal ultrasonography has been regarded as the most informative examination. This method allows us to measure fetal heart rate, fetal activity as well as the quality and quantity of the fetal fluids. A modified biophysical profile for horses was used by several researchers in the USA from the 1990s as a gold standard. However, it is not sensitive enough and, in the authors' experience, professionals can face difficulties during its application (e.g. for measuring aortic diameter and fetal breathing movements). In cows, this method was first used for this purpose by a Canadian research group in 2007. They reported that transabdominal ultrasound was promising but showed low sensitivity in this species. The present studies show that birth weight cannot be predicted from fetal aortic diameter measurement in cows as suggested by other researchers. Transabdominal ultrasound needs special equipment (2-3.5 MHz convex transducer) and basic ultrasonographic knowledge; however, we suggest that in most cases it can be performed with the dam placed in a stock and without shaving the examination area. The method provides useful information within 30-40 minutes, enabling the examiner to determine whether or not the fetus is alive and to recognise placentitis or twins. This technique also allows measuring the combined thickness of the uteroplacental unit, and the authors' ongoing study showed higher normal values in Lipizzaner mares compared to values in other breeds. In conclusion, with the help of advanced techniques, simple and low-cost methods should be developed for the evaluation of the pregnant dam and its fetus to assess fetal viability in the veterinary practice.

Uterine torsion and cesarean section in llamas and alpacas

Dystocia occurs infrequently in llamas and alpacas. Uterine torsion is one of the more common causes of dystocia that requires veterinary care. Cesarean section may be required to resolve dystocia or uterine torsion. Correction of uterine torsion is most often successful without laparotomy. Laparotomy and cesarean section can be performed successfully in llamas and alpacas in field settings. This article discusses the indications, techniques, and expected outcomes of uterine torsion and cesarean section when performed in llamas or alpacas.

Continuous fetal heart rate monitoring during late gestation in cattle by means of Doppler ultrasonography: reference values obtained by computer-assisted analysis

Continuous fetal heart rate (FHR) monitoring using transabdominal Doppler ultrasonography can be assumed to provide information about the viability of the bovine fetus during late gestation, as has been found in humans. To be able to recognize unfavourable fetal conditions, first the normal ranges of FHR parameters in cattle should be established. Therefore, in this study we aimed to determine the normal ranges of computerized FHR parameters, like basal fetal heart rate (BHR), number of accelerations and decelerations per hour and short and long term variation (STV and LTV) during the last 3 weeks before calving (n = 21 cows). Each cow had one recording in each of three episodes of 7 days before parturition. As recording time in the cow is limited, we also studied whether these FHR parameters differ between recordings of 30 and 60 min duration (n = 31 pairs of recordings). The outcomes of FHR recordings with a duration of 30 or 60 min did not differ significantly, except for a higher percentage of signal loss in the 60 min recordings. Therefore, determination of normal ranges was performed in 30 min recordings. BHR decreased from 3 to 2 weeks (114 to 109 bpm; P < 0.0001) before parturition and then remained constant until 2 days before calving. The mean number of accelerations per hour ranged between 4.4 and 5.0 h(-1) and did not change significantly with time. Compared to 3 weeks before parturition, STV was significantly higher at 2 weeks (P < 0.05), but not at 1 week before parturition (8.1, 10.0, and 9.2 ms, respectively). Changes in LTV showed a time course comparable to that of STV, but significance was not reached (51.4, 58.6, and 58.4 ms for respectively 3, 2 and 1 weeks before parturition). No decelerations were found during the period understudy. In conclusion, this study has provided normal ranges of bovine computerized FHR parameters during the last 3 weeks of gestation, allowing a comparison with data from cows with compromised gestations in future.

Fetal death: comparative aspects in large domestic animals

Although the majority of pregnancy failures occur during the embryonic period, reports indicate that approximately 5% of detected pregnancies are lost during the fetal period, underlining the fact that fetal death is a substantial cause of economic loss. However, examination for fetal development or death during pregnancy is not performed routinely in domestic animals, and reference curves for normal fetal growth are, therefore, scarce. In this paper, the numerous possible causes of fetal death are reviewed briefly, with emphasis on the role of placental problems in fetal death and impaired fetal viability. In this respect, the role of placental insufficiency as a cause of pregnancy loss in twin pregnancies in monotocous species is well known, whereas the abnormal placental development leading to retarded fetal growth during pregnancies in recipients of in vitro produced (IVP) or nuclear transfer (NT) embryos has been less extensively documented. Fetal viability or death can be evaluated using hormonal, chemical and ultrasonographic parameters. For example, the viability of the feto-placental unit can be examined by measuring maternal plasma concentrations of oestrone sulphate or the placental proteins, including pregnancy-associated glycoprotein (PAG) and pregnancy-specific protein B-60 (PSPB-60). Low concentrations of any of these three indicate either no pregnancy, or if pregnancy was confirmed earlier, fetal death and abnormally high or low levels can indicate fetal abnormality. Ultrasound can be used to examine the fetal heart rate (FHR), the incidence of fetal movements (FM), the appearance of fetal fluids and the development of the fetus and placenta. However, although abnormal FHRs have been correlated to subsequent fetal death, it is important to remember that there is a large physiological variation in FHR at the end of gestation, due to different behavioural states and differences in FM patterns. Although monitoring fetal viability and death using hormonal and ultrasonographic evaluations is possible during pregnancy in domestic animals, there is considerable physiological variations in the 'normal' values. Therefore, suitable combinations of tests need to be identified and more accurate reference values generated before such approaches can be considered reliable for monitoring the status of individual fetuses.