Abstract
Simple SummaryIn veterinary medicine, the availability of an easy tool for the immediate evaluation of biological fluids’ composition on site is desirable and beneficial as a first-line diagnostic instrument in many instances and in several animal species. The aim of the present study was to assess the usefulness of reagent urinary test strips marketed for urines for the on-field evaluation of fetal fluids’ composition in newborn dogs at elective caesarean section. From surviving newborns, a collection of 113 amniotic and 107 allantoic samples was performed, and 8 amniotic and allantoic fluids were collected from non-surviving newborns. All the fetal fluids were assessed by urinary test strips within 5 min from collection. Significant differences were found for both types of fluid between surviving and non-surviving puppies, and between medium/large and small-sized puppies. Differences were also depicted between amniotic and allantoic fluids within the surviving group. These results seem to suggest that the on-site analysis of fetal fluids’ composition by reagent test strips could represent a first-line tool for the evaluation of puppies and for the quick identification of puppies requiring special monitoring and assistance.The reagent urinary test strips (TS) marketed for urines represent the first-line diagnostic tool in many instances. Therefore, the aim of the study was to assess the usefulness of TS for the on-field evaluation of fetal fluids’ composition in newborn dogs at elective caesarean section. Of a total of 137 puppies born at term, 127 survived and 10 did not survive. One hundred and thirteen amniotic and 107 allantoic samples from surviving newborns were collected, and 8 amniotic and allantoic fluids were collected from the non-surviving newborns and assessed by strips. Significantly lower amounts of amniotic glucose and higher amounts of amniotic and allantoic nitrites, amniotic protein, allantoic urobilinogen, and amniotic bilirubin concentrations were found in non-surviving when compared to surviving newborns. In the surviving ones, higher specific gravity and bilirubin concentrations, and lower pH, were found in allantoic than in amniotic fluids. Higher amniotic and allantoic glucose concentrations, higher amniotic and allantoic pH, and lower amniotic and allantoic protein concentrations were found in medium/large- than in small-sized puppies. The TS allowed the quick evaluation of fetal fluids in puppies at birth. The differences between surviving and non-surviving puppies seem to suggest that the on-site analysis of fetal fluids’ composition by TS could represent a first-line diagnostic tool in the field of canine neonatology, allowing the quick recognition of puppies needing assistance as a complementary tool for clinical evaluation.
Highlights
In mammals, fetal fluids hold a significant role in the process of fetal development and growth and reflect fetal well-being
Based on the above reported reasons, the aim of this study was to assess, by use of commercial semi-quantitative test strips marketed for human urine analysis: (1) possible differences in fluid composition between amniotic and allantoic sacs in surviving and nonsurviving newborns born at term of pregnancy from healthy dogs; (2) possible differences in composition between the two types of fluid in surviving puppies; (3) to assess possible effects of maternal age, parity, by newborn gender, Apgar score, and by breed body-size on the composition of fluids in amniotic and allantoic sacs in surviving puppies
All the normal puppies alive at 24 h and 7 days after birth were included in the surviving group, while all the pathologic were grouped as non-surviving newborns
Summary
Fetal fluids hold a significant role in the process of fetal development and growth and reflect fetal well-being. The amniotic fluid collected through amniocentesis has been demonstrated to be very useful for many investigations, such as chromosomal abnormalities diagnosis, gender definition, infections and/or inflammation diagnosis, microbiota studies, and fetal pulmonary maturity assessment [2,3]. In dogs, as in other animal species, beside the amniotic cavity containing the amniotic fluid, the allantoic sac persists until term of pregnancy and, because of the communication with the fetal urinary system, it plays a role as a fetal metabolism waste reservoir [4]. The composition and amount of fetal fluid changes widely during gestation, with the final form reflecting the simple filtration from maternal blood, and resulting from the activity of the fetus itself [6].
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