Comparison of ultrasonography, progesterone assay, ballottement, and non-return-to-heat with digital rectal palpation technique for early pregnancy diagnosis in Red Sokoto goat.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the digital rectal palpation (DRP) technique for early pregnancy diagnosis and to compare the results of experiments I and II in the Red Sokoto goat. Experiment I had 68 goats with 52 does and 16 bucks. Does were divided into prostaglandin F2 -alpha (PGF2 α; n = 18), progesterone pessaries (P4 P; n = 18), and Control (n = 16) groups as oestrus synchronizaton methods. Bucks were used for oestrus detection (n = 6) and breeding (n = 10). Comparative pregnancy diagnosis was carried out on day 21 post-breeding using ultrasonography (US), DRP, progesterone assay (PA), ballottement (BL), and non-return-to-heat (NRH). Experiment II was a repeat but had 51 animals with 42 does and nine bucks; three bucks for oestrus detection and six for breeding. Does were divided into recto-vaginal artificial insemination (AI) by DRP (n = 14), vaginal speculum AI (n = 14), and Control-natural service (n = 14) groups, indicating breeding methods. Oestrus was synchronized with PGF2 α and pregnancy diagnosis was carried out on day 21 using US, DRP, PA, and NRH. The results for both experiments were similar. Pregnancy rates for PGF2 α group were 66.2%, 66.7%, 64.8%, 62.1%, and 63.0% for US, DRP, PA, BL, and NRH, respectively; P4 P had 81.5%, 81.5%, 42.6%, 20.3%, and 42.6% for US, DRP, PA, BL, and NRH, respectively; while Control was 73.6%, 79.2%, 70.9%, 73.6%, and 73.6% for US, DRP, PA, BL, and NRH, respectively. Proportions are significantly (p < .000) different in the P4 P group. It was concluded that the DRP technique was effective and consistent in early pregnancy diagnosis on day 21 and comparable to US, PA, BL, and non-return-to-oestrus in both experiments in Red Sokoto goat does.

No adverse effect of confirmation of ovulation by rectal palpation and ultrasonography after artificial insemination on formation, development, and function of the corpus luteum and conception rate in cows.

The effect of confirmation of ovulation by rectal palpation and ultrasonography after artificial insemination (AI) on the development of the corpus luteum (CL) and conception rate was investigated in cows. A total of 90 clinically healthy Holstein-Friesian dairy cows were examined in this study. After AI, the cows were divided into three groups (30 cows per group). In Group I, ovulation was confirmed by rectal palpation at 24 h after AI. In Group II, ovulation was confirmed using transrectal ultrasonography 24 h after AI. In Group III, ovulation was not confirmed after AI. Day 0 was defined as the day when ovulation was confirmed in Groups I and II, and as the day after AI was performed in group III. Transrectal ultrasonography was performed on days 3, 5, 7, and 14 to measure the CL diameter, tissue area, and CL blood flow area, and the ratio of CL blood flow area to CL tissue area was calculated. On the day of CL measurement, blood samples were collected to determine the plasma concentrations of progesterone (P4) and estradiol-17ß (E2). Pregnancy was diagnosed at 28 and 60 days after AI. A high conception rate of approximately 80% was achieved in Groups I and II, in which confirmation of ovulation was conducted. There were no differences in the diameter, tissue area, or blood flow area of the CL between the three groups. These results indicate that the confirmation of ovulation by rectal palpation and transrectal ultrasonography did not affect the formation and function of the CL or conception rate.

[Comparison of the findings of rectal examination and ultrasonographic findings in horses with colic]. / Vergleich rektaler und sonographischer Untersuchungsbefunde bei der Kolik des Pferdes.

OBJECTIVE: The examination of patients suffering from an acute abdomen routinely comprises both clinical and rectal examinations, and is ever more frequently accompanied by an ultrasonographic abdominal examination. The aim of the study was to compare the findings as defined through rectal examination with the results of the ultrasonographic examination for different forms of colic. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a retrospective study, the patient records of the Large Animal Clinic of the University of Leipzig from 2012 and 2013 were analysed, and those of horses suffering from colic were included. Diagnoses made through rectal and ultrasonographic examination were grouped and compared with the diagnoses made during colic surgery or pathologic examination, which served as the gold standard. Horses that underwent conservative treatment had a definitive diagnosis assigned only in cases where a pathognostic rectal finding defined the diagnosis. Based on these data, sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values were calculated for both techniques. RESULTS: Ultrasonography was more sensitive than rectal examination in cases of small intestinal occlusion (97.1% vs. 50.7%), torsion of the large colon in the long axis (63.2% vs. 26.3%) and dislocation of the large colon into the nephrosplenic space (90.9% vs. 72.7%). Rectal examination was more sensitive than ultrasonographic examination in cases of other types of dislocation of the large colon (96.5% vs. 8.8%) and of constipations of the large colon (93.6% vs. 29.8%). CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In cases of severe diseases, including small intestinal occlusions and torsions of the large colon, ultrasonography helps to better identify and more precisely diagnose conditions that in most cases require abdominal surgery than rectal examination. Therefore, under hospital conditions, it is highly advisable to include ultrasonography in the routine examination of the equine acute abdomen. However, this technique does not replace the traditional rectal examination, which is superior in the diagnosis of dislocations and constipations of the large colon as well as diseases of the caecum.

[Sonographic evaluation of the uterus in Holstein-Friesian cows without and with disturbances of the puerperium during the first 14 days postpartum]. / Sonographische Beurteilung des Uterus bei Holstein-friesian Kühen ohne und mit Puerperalstörungen in den ersten 14 Tagen post partum.

The aim of this study was to investigate if, compared with transrectal manual palpation, B-mode sonography provides additional information about the uterine structures and contents of Holstein-Friesian cows without and with disturbances during the early puerperal phase, that lead to a more precise diagnosis. The examinations were carried out once per cow either during the first four days p. p. (contraction phase, KPH) or on days 5 to 10 (desquamation phase, DPH) or on days 11 to 14 (regeneration phase, RPH) in 57 cows with undisturbed (UP) and 69 with disturbed puerperal phases (GP). The mean size of the uterus measured by transrectal palpation was 0.94 to 1.51 points (on a 6-point scale, p < 0.05) larger throughout the examination period and the fluctuation was 1.29 and 0.92 points (on a 4-point scale, p < 0.05) higher in GP cows compared with UP cows during the KPH and RPH, respectively. During the KPH, contractility of the uterus was 0.56 points (on a 3-point scale, p < 0.05) lower in GP cows compared with UP cows. Sonographically the cross sectional area of the most caudally located caruncle was 0.47 to 3.53 cm2 bigger (p < 0.05) in GP cows than in UP cows. The GP cows showed in the KPH a 0.21 cm thinner (p < 0.05) endometrium compared with the UP cows. In the DPH and RPH, the echogenicity was 1.63 and 1.04 points (on a 4-point scale, p < 0.05) higher and the intraluminal diameter of the uterine body was 0.49 to 0.67 cm greater (p < 0.05) in GP cows compared with UP cows, respectively. By means of dicriminant analysis 96.7% and 91.7% of the animals of the GP and UP group, respectively, where classified correctly during the DPH, whereas in the other two phases these proportions were between 70.0% and 87.5%. The results show that B-mode sonography is an additional valuable method for a more accurate differentiation of uterine involutionary processes between cows without and with disturbances of the puerperal phase.

Successful timing of ovulation using deslorelin (Ovuplant) is labour-saving in mares aimed for single ai with frozen semen.

To minimize the number of matings/inseminations, controlled ovulation has been practised since a long time ago. A potent short-term implant, releasing the GnRH analogue deslorelin (Ovuplant((R))) has been used in Australia and North America for several years for hastening the ovulation time in mares, but the product is not registered on the European market. This study was aimed to investigate: (1) ovulation time in mares implanted with Ovuplant when the largest follicle was 42 mm or more in size, (2) repeatability of ovulation time in successive oestruses when treated with Ovuplant, (3) pregnancy rate after single insemination with frozen-thawed semen near ovulation. This study included 11 mares, and altogether 17 timed ovulations. Follicular growth and ovulation were determined by palpation per rectum and by ultrasonography in the morning (at 7:00 hours) every second day until observation of a follicle of at least 42 mm in diameter. Then the mares were re-examined in the afternoon (at 19:00 hours), and an Ovuplant was inserted in the mucosa of the vulva. For detection of ovulation, the mares were palpated and ultrasounded repeatedly from 36-42 h after the insert. The mares were inseminated with frozen-thawed semen once at ovulation. All mares ovulated at 36-48 h after treatment and 94% at 38-42 h after treatment. The six mares that were treated at two oestruses ovulated at 39.9 and 39.7 h, respectively. Five of 11 mares (45.4%), inseminated with frozen-thawed semen at the first oestrous cycle were pregnant day 14-16 after ovulation. Using this protocol, there is no need of palpation/ultrasonography during night hours, and examination at 36 and 41 h after implantation might be enough for estimation of ovulation time.