Abstract
Ultrasonographic examination of pregnant ewes can enable the identification of perinatal abnormalities and establish prenatal assistance responsible for minimizing morbidity and perinatal mortality. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the feasibility of a fetal biometric analysis by ultrasonography to predict neonatal vitality and lamb growth during the first month of life. A longitudinal study was conducted with 13 healthy ewes, subjected to ultrasonographic examination every 15 days from 60th day of pregnancy until lambing, evaluating thoracic diameter, abdominal diameter, biparietal diameter, humerus, femur and placentome length. At birth, 22 lambs were assessed through Apgar score at 5 minutes and after 1 hour. Measurement of body weight was also carried out immediately at birth and weekly during 30 days after birth. Thoracic diameter showed a significant increase between 91-105 days and 121-135 days. Conversely, abdominal diameter had a progressive growth until 106-120 days, and then, a steady development was observed. Biparietal diameter showed progressive growth only towards days 91 and 105. For the humerus length, we verified a significant increase between 106-120 days and 121-135 days, remaining unaltered onwards; while femur length continued to grow until lambing. The linear regression analysis between birth weight and biparietal diameter at 60-75 days was high (R2=0.96; P<0.0001; coefficient of variability of 3.3%). In conclusion, ultrasonographic analysis of fetal biparietal diameter at mid-pregnancy can be used as a predictor of lamb weight at birth. Moreover, assessment of femur length at final pregnancy can be employed for fetal and neonatal development estimation.
Highlights
Real-time ultrasound is widely employed for pregnancy diagnosis in sheep
We aimed to evaluate the feasibility of a fetal biometric analysis by ultrasonography to predict neonatal vitality and lamb growth during the first month of life
A longitudinal study was conducted with 13 healthy ewes, subjected to ultrasonographic examination every 15 days from 60th day of pregnancy until lambing, evaluating thoracic diameter, abdominal diameter, biparietal diameter, humerus, femur and placentome length
Summary
It is possible to identify twin pregnancies, especially in early stages, estimate gestational age and fetal growth, in addition to evaluating placental development (Kelly et al, 1987; Greenwood et al, 2002). Ultrasound can detect fetal movements and heartbeats accurately in advanced pregnancy, as well as the vitality and fetal growth (Gonzáles de Bulnes et al., 1998; Scott and Gessert, 2000). Silva et al (2018) showed that qualitative analysis of fetal‐maternal structures through ultrasonography can accurately estimate gestational age, as well as fetal development in sheep. Ultrasonographic examination of the pregnant ewe can enable the identification of perinatal abnormalities and establish a prenatal assistance responsible for minimizing morbidity and perinatal mortality. The systematic approach towards the prenatal control in ewes and the neonatal lamb is still lacking
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