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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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Santos GMGD, Junior LB, Silva-Santos KC, Ayres Dias JH, Dias IDS, Seneda MM, Morotti F. Conception rate and pregnancy loss in fixed-time cattle embryo transfer programs are related to the luteal blood perfusion but not to the corpus luteum size. Theriogenology 2023; 210:251-255. [PMID: 37549464 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2023.07.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the effect of luteal blood perfusion and corpus luteum (CL) area on the conception rate and occurrence of pregnancy loss of recipients in a large-scale fixed-time embryo transfer (FTET) program. Multiparous Brangus cows (n = 1700) at 45 days postpartum and body condition scores (BCS) between 2.5 and 4.0 (3.0 ± 0.3) were used in this study. On a random day of the estrous cycle (day -10), the females received progesterone and estradiol based on the FTET protocol. On day 7, 1465 recipients had at least one CL and were evaluated using B-mode ultrasound for the CL area (cm2) and color Doppler for the luteal blood perfusion score (I/low-vascularization area <40% of the CL; II/medium-vascularization >45% to < 50%; and III/high-vascularization >50%). Immediately after CL evaluation, each recipient received a single fresh embryo (blastocyst stage) ipsilateral to the CL, in vitro produced from a commercial laboratory. Pregnancy diagnosis was performed at 30 days and repeated 60 days later to evaluate pregnancy loss (30-90 days). Ultrasound evaluation and embryo transfer were performed by a single technician. For data analysis, in addition to luteal blood perfusion groups, recipients were retrospectively ranked according to CL area into small (<3 cm2; 2.63 ± 0.01), medium (>3 to < 4 cm2; 3.44 ± 0.01), and large (>4 cm2; 4.77 ± 0.03). Data were analyzed using a logistic regression model (P < 0.05). The overall conception rate was 44.2% (648/1465), influenced by the luteal blood perfusion score [P = 0.03; high 48.4%a (134/277), medium 44.6%a (427/958), and low 37.8%b (87/230)] but not by CL area ranking [P = 0.37; large 41.8% (225/538), medium 45.2% (276/610), and small 46.4% (147/317)]. There was no interaction between the luteal blood perfusion score and CL area ranking (P = 0.81), and the BCS did not affect the results of this study (P = 0.51). In terms of pregnancy loss up to 90 days, there was no effect on the CL area ranking (P = 0.77), but the flow score showed an effect [P = 0.03; high 3.6%b (5/139), medium 9.3%a (44/471), and low 10.3%a (10/97)]. The conception rate and occurrence of pregnancy loss in the FTET program in beef cattle are related to luteal blood perfusion but not CL size.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Fábio Morotti
- UEL - Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, PR, Brazil; UNOPAR - Universidade Pitágoras Unopar Anhanguera, Arapongas, PR, Brazil.
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Sharif B, Hassan M, Arshad U, Tahir MZ, Ahmad E, Khan MI, Shahzad M, Mohsin I, Sosa F, Rehman A. Effect of eCG dose on ovarian haemodynamics, hormonal profiles and prolificacy rate when oestrus was induced during low-breeding season in Beetal goats. Reprod Domest Anim 2023; 58:48-59. [PMID: 36102495 DOI: 10.1111/rda.14257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The objectives of the experiment were to determine the effect of two doses of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) in a standard synchronization protocol based on a short-term progesterone (P4 ) priming on ovarian structures and haemodynamics, concentrations of steroid hormones and prolificacy rate when oestrus was induced during low-breeding season (LBS) in Beetal dairy goats. We hypothesized that inclusion of eCG in a short-term P4 priming-based synchronization protocol would increase the blood perfusion to ovarian structures leading to enhance oestrous and ovulatory responses and prolificacy rate in goats. Forty-two multiparous acyclic goats were blocked by body condition and, within block, assigned randomly to receive saline as control (CON), low eCG (L-eCG; 300 IU) or high eCG (H-eCG; 600 IU) dose. Initially, a controlled internal drug release (CIDR) device was placed in the anterior vagina on d -8, followed by removal of CIDR on d -3, concurrent with the administration of PGF2α and eCG according to their respective treatments. Goats were monitored for oestrous response. B-mode and Doppler ultrasonography was performed with 12-h interval, starting from day -3 until natural breeding (day 0), and then on days 5, 10, 15 and 20 post-breeding to monitor follicular and luteal dynamics and blood flow, respectively. Blood was sampled at 0, 12, 24, 36 and 60 h after CIDR removal to quantify plasma concentrations of estradiol-17β (E2 ), whereas plasma concentrations of P4 were assayed at days 5, 10, 15 and 20 after breeding. Pregnancy and prolificacy rates were determined at day 30 and 150 after breeding, respectively. Data were analysed with mixed-effects models, and orthogonal contrasts were used to evaluate the effect of treatment [Con vs. (½ L-eCG + ½ H-eCG)] and dose of eCG (L-eCG vs. H-eCG). Data are presented in sequence as CON, L-eCG, H-eCG (LSM ± SEM). The oestrous intensity score (152.9 vs. 182.7 vs. 186.5 ± 15.1; p = .02) was greater in eCG-treated goats as compared to CON. Administration of eCG reduced the intervals to standing oestrus (66.2 vs. 41.8 vs. 48.9 h ± 5.5; p = .05), breeding (70.2 vs. 44.4 vs. 45.4 h ± 4.5; p = .03) and ovulation (84.5 vs. 61.2 vs. 63.4 h ± 6.2; p = .05) compared with CON goats. The mean growth rate of pre-ovulatory follicle was greater (1.11 vs. 1.49 vs. 1.45 mm ± 0.08; p = .01) in eCG-treated goats resulting in an increased diameter of pre-ovulatory follicle (6.27 vs. 7.20 vs. 7.31 mm ± 0.07; p < .01) and corpora lutea (6.75 vs. 8.26 vs. 8.07 mm ± 0.42; p = .04) than CON. The mean follicular blood flow did not differ among treatments; however, the mean luteal blood flow was greater in L-eCG-treated goats (0.81 vs. 1.61 vs. 1.07 cm2 ± 0.12; p = .001). The mean concentrations of E2 (4.03 vs. 5.21 vs. 4.78 pg/ml ± 0.42; p = .04) and P4 (4.85 vs. 6.39 vs. 6.22 ng/ml ± 0.34; p = .04) were greater in eCG-treated goats. The twinning rate did not differ between treatments; nevertheless, prolificacy rate was greater (p = .04) in L-eCG-treated goats. Collectively, our data suggest that the administration of eCG improves the induction of oestrous and ovarian dynamics. Administration of L-eCG enhances prolificacy rate, therefore, a low dose of eCG might be practically beneficial to improve reproduction during LBS in acyclic Beetal dairy goats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Babar Sharif
- Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Mubbashar Hassan
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Jhang, Pakistan
| | - Usman Arshad
- Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan.,Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Muhammad Z Tahir
- Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Ejaz Ahmad
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad I Khan
- Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Shahzad
- Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Imran Mohsin
- Department of Livestock Production, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Froylan Sosa
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | - Abdul Rehman
- Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan
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Fontes PLP, Oosthuizen N. Applied Use of Doppler Ultrasonography in Bovine Reproduction. FRONTIERS IN ANIMAL SCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fanim.2022.912854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of Doppler ultrasonography to quantify blood vascularization in reproductive organs has increased over the past decade. Doppler technology has predominantly been explored in research settings to evaluate uterine blood flow and to assess follicular and luteal blood perfusion. Recent research has also explored the use of Doppler technology in applied reproductive management for both the beef and dairy industries and has focused on the use of luteal color Doppler ultrasonography to evaluate embryo transfer recipients and perform early pregnancy diagnosis. Although significant progress has been made and current literature indicates a strong potential for the applied use of Doppler ultrasonography to increase reproductive efficiency in the cattle industry, uptake of this technology is still currently limited. This review summarizes the recent developments in the applied use of color Doppler ultrasonography for reproductive management in both beef and dairy cattle herds.
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Filho JT, Pfeifer LFM, Hoefle CA, Rodrigues MF, Ferreira R. Effect of calving to timed artificial insemination interval on fertility of beef cows. Reprod Domest Anim 2022; 57:936-942. [PMID: 35559583 DOI: 10.1111/rda.14156] [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: 01/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of calving to timed artificial insemination (C-TAI) interval on fertility of Bos taurus and Bos indicus cows, and to determine the best C-TAI interval to include postpartum cows in TAI programs in each genotype (B. taurus and B. indicus). In experiment 1, a retrospective study was performed, with data from 2709 TAI in Bos taurus and Bos indicus cows with different C-TAI intervals. There was a positive linear effect of C-TAI interval on the pregnancy probability (P < 0.0001). However, there was no effect or interaction with the genotype. When C-TAI intervals were grouped in classes, pregnancy rate differed in groups (P < 0,05). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed and it was observed that 52 days would be the better C-TAI interval to maximize fertility in beef cows. According to previous result, we further stratified into two C-TAI interval groups (≤ 52 days or > 52 days). Cows with C-TAI longer than 52 days (C-TAI>52) had greater pregnancy rate (56%) than cows with short C-TAI (46%; P < 0.01). In experiment 2, 18 postpartum beef cows were subjected to TAI protocol at different C-TAI intervals (n = 6 cows per group): 40, 60 or 80 days postpartum. Cows with 60 days of C-TAI had a greater preovulatory follicle diameter than cows with 80 days postpartum (P < 0.05). The C-TAI interval did not affect (P > 0.05) the ovulation rate nor the proportion of endometrial polymorphonuclear leukocytes. We conclude that C-TAI interval affects pregnancy rate in both Bos taurus and Bos indicus. We recommend a C-TAI interval longer than 52 days to increase fertility of beef cows included in TAI programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juarez Tomazi Filho
- Department of Animal Science, Santa Catarina State University, Chapecó, SC, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Rogério Ferreira
- Department of Animal Science, Santa Catarina State University, Chapecó, SC, Brazil
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