Characterization of fetal growth by repeated ultrasound measurements in the wild guinea pig (Cavia aperea)

Abstract

Fetal growth during pregnancy has previously been studied in the domesticated guinea pig (Cavia aperea f. porcellus) after dissecting pregnant females, but there are no studies describing the fetal growth in their wild progenitor, the wild guinea pig (C aperea). In this study, 50 pregnancies of wild guinea pig sows were investigated using modern ultrasound technique. The two most common fetal growth parameters (biparietal diameter [BPD] and crown-rump-length [CRL]) and uterine position were measured. Data revealed similar fetal growth patterns in the wild guinea pig and domesticated guinea pig in the investigated gestation period, although they differ in reproductive milestones such as gestation length (average duration of pregnancy 68 days), average birth weight, and litter mass. In this study, pregnancy lasted on average 60.2 days with a variance of less than a day (0.96 days). The measured fetal growth parameters are strongly correlated with each (R = 0.91; P < 0.001) other and with gestational age (BPD regression equation y = 0.04x − 0.29; P < 0.001 and CRL regression equation y = 0.17x − 2.21; P < 0.01). Furthermore, fetuses in the most frequent uterine positions did not differ in their growth parameters and were not influenced by the mother ID. Our results imply that ultrasound measurement of a single fetal growth parameter is sufficient to reliably estimate gestational age in the wild guinea pig.