Empty Uteri Research Articles

Improved estimates of abortion rates in tsetse (Glossina spp.).

Abortion rates were assessed among 170, 846 tsetse (154,228 Glossina pallidipes and 19,618 Glossina morsitans morsitans) sampled in Zimbabwe in 1988-1999. The study produced improved estimates of abortion rates and how these varied with fly age and size and temperatures experienced during pregnancy. An abortion was diagnosed if the uterus was empty and the largest oocyte <0.82 of the expected mature length. Abortion rates for G. pallidipes and G. m. morsitans were 0.64% (95% ci: 0.59-0.69) and 0.83% (0.62-1.10) for trapped flies and 2.03% (1.77-2.31) and 1.55% (1.20-1.98) for flies from artificial refuges. Abortion rates increased with increasing temperature and decreased with increasing wing length and wing fray. Contrary to laboratory findings, abortion rates did not increase in the oldest flies. Percentages of tsetse with empty uteri, regardless of abortion status, were significantly higher than estimated abortion percentages. For tsetse from traps, 4.01% (95% ci: 3.90-4.13) of G. pallidipes and 2.52% (2.14-2.95) of G. m. morsitans had empty uteri; for flies from artificial refuges, the percentages were 12.69% (12.07-13.34) and 14.90% (13.82-16.02), respectively. Abortion losses are small relative to losses at all other stages of life.

Insemination, pregnancy and abortion rates in a population of &lt;i&gt;Glossina palpalis palpalis&lt;/i&gt; (robineau-desvoidy) at a relict forest in the Southern Guinea Savanna, Nigeria

The female populations of Glossina palpalis palpalis were surveyed at the relict forest of River Kajim, Manchok, Nigeria with the objective of determining rates of fertility, types of reproductive losses and the constraints responsible for the reproductive losses. Nullipars constitutes 21.7% of the 272 females dissected. 80.2% of the 213 pars were at different stages of pregnancy; 32.5% had eggs and 20.3%, 17.5% 9.9% had 1st, 2nd and 3rd-instar larvae in their uteri, while 42 pars had empty uteri. Mean monthly pregnancy rates were 70.2 ± 0.03% (57.1%-100%), highest in the peak wet season (34.5%) (July-September) and low in both warm wet (10.6%) (October) and hot dry (11.8%) (February-March) seasons. Virgin females were generally scarce. Abortion, insemination failure and ovular blockage were the common reproductive abnormalities in the population, totaling 9.9%. The results indicate that nutritional and physical stress were the likely constraints to optimum productivity.Keywords: insemination, pregnancy, reproductive abnormality, G. p. palpalis, Southern Guinea SavannaTropical Veterinarian Vol. 23(1) 2005: 25-31

Rate of Change of Serial β–Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Values as a Predictor of Ectopic Pregnancy in Patients With Indeterminate Transvaginal Ultrasound Findings

Study objective: To determine the predictive value of the rate of change of serial β–human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) values in patients with symptoms suggestive of ectopic pregnancy but who have indeterminate transvaginal ultrasound findings, and to determine whether the predictive value was enhanced depending on whether the endometrial cavity was empty at ultrasound examination. Methods: A retrospective study was performed on consecutive emergency department patients from August 1, 1991, through August 1, 1998, presenting with abdominal pain or vaginal bleeding, a positive β-hCG test result, and indeterminate transvaginal ultrasound findings. Patients were eligible for the study if they had a second β-hCG assay performed within 7 days of the initial visit and before either a diagnostic dilation and evacuation or laparoscopy. Patients were excluded if they were lost to follow-up. Patients were divided into 4 groups based on the rate of change of β-hCG values over a 48-hour interval (increase by >66%, increase by <66%, decrease by <50%, decrease by >50%). In addition, the 4 main groups were further subdivided depending on whether the endometrial cavity was empty at ultrasound examination. Intergroup differences in the frequency of ectopic pregnancy based on the rate of change of the β-hCG value were compared using logistic regression. Logistic regression also was used to determine whether addition of the ultrasound result improved predicative accuracy. A P value of less than .05 was considered significant. Odds ratios (ORs) were determined for each subgroup. Results: Three hundred thirty-one eligible patients were identified; of these, 24 were excluded. Of the 307 enrolled patients, 33 (10.7%) had a final diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy. Intergroup differences in the frequency of ectopic pregnancy based on the β-hCG rate of change were significant ( P <.0001). Addition of the ultrasound result to this model further improved predicative accuracy ( P <.0001). Overall, patients with increasing β-hCG values were at increased risk compared with those with decreasing β-hCG values, and patients with empty uteri at ultrasound were at increased risk compared with those with uteri that were not empty. Combining the β-hCG rate of change with the ultrasound result identified 3 high-risk groups: patients with β-hCG values that increased by less than 66% and an empty uterus at ultrasound (OR 24.8); patients with β-hCG values that decreased by less than 50% and an empty uterus at ultrasound (OR 3.7); and patients with β-hCG values that increased by more than 66% and an empty uterus at ultrasound (OR 2.6). Patients with β-hCG values that decreased by more than 50% were found to be at low risk for ectopic pregnancy irrespective of the specific endometrial findings at ultrasound. Conclusion: The rate of change of serial β-hCG values, in patients with an indeterminate pelvic ultrasound examination, is predictive of ectopic pregnancy. Addition of whether the endometrial cavity is empty at ultrasound leads to a further improvement in predictive accuracy. [Dart RG, Mitterando J, Dart LM: Rate of change of serial β–human chorionic gonadotropin values as a predictor of ectopic pregnancy in patients with indeterminate transvaginal ultrasound findings. Ann Emerg Med December 1999;34:703-710.]

The utility of a dilatation and evacuation procedure in patients with symptoms suggestive of ectopic pregnancy and indeterminate transvaginal ultrasonography.

To ascertain the overall frequency of obtaining chorionic villi (CV) in patients with indeterminate transvaginal ultrasound (US) examinations who have had a dilatation and evacuation (D+E) procedure performed, to determine whether the frequency of obtaining CV is dependent on whether the endometrial cavity is empty at US, and to determine the likelihood of ectopic pregnancy in patients without CV after D+E and with or without an empty endometrial cavity at US. A retrospective review was made of consecutive ED patients presenting to an urban teaching hospital from August 1991 through August 1997 with abdominal pain or vaginal bleeding and a positive beta-human chorionic gonatropin (beta-hCG) test. Patients who had a transvaginal US that was read as indeterminate (no extrauterine findings of ectopic pregnancy, and no intrauterine fetal pole or yolk sac) and who had a D+E performed within 48 hours of the ED visit were eligible. US exams were subdivided into two groups, those with empty endometrial cavities and those with endometrial cavities that contained fluid, echogenic material, or sac-like structures. The presence or absence of CV was based on the official pathology report. Patients were excluded if pathology results were not available. A total of 255 patients met eligibility criteria. Of these, pathology results were not available for five patients. Of the remaining patients, 177 of 250 (70.8%: 95% CI = 64.7% to 76.3%) had CV identified in the pathology specimen. The difference in the frequencies of obtaining CV in those with empty endometrial cavities (35/78; 44.9%: 95% CI = 34% to 56%) vs. those without empty endometrial cavities (142/172; 82.6%: 95% CI = 76% to 88%) was significant (p<0.001). Ectopic pregnancy was diagnosed in 17 of 42 (40.0%) with empty uteri at US and no CV at pathology vs 5 of 26 (19.2%) in whom the uterus was not empty and no CV were obtained (p = 0.07). In symptomatic patients with indeterminate transvaginal ultrasound exams, CV will be identified after D+E in approximately 70% of cases. Although CV were found with increased frequency when the endometrial cavity was not empty, still almost half of the patients with empty uteri had villi identified. Finally, although the frequency of ectopic pregnancy was higher in the patients with empty uteri and no CV at D+E, vs. those without an empty uterus and no CV, this difference did not reach statistical significance.

Reproductive abnormalities in tsetse flies in Zimbabwe

Between November 1988 and July 1995 five technicians carried out ovarian dissections on 16,013 Glossina morsitans morsitans Westwood and 123,848 G. pallidipes Austen captured at Rekomitjie Research Station, Zambezi Valley, Zimbabwe. The ovarian age and uterine content were recorded, as were the lengths (l1, l2 and lu) of the largest and second largest oocyte, and of any uterine inclusion. Major abnormalities and abnormal spermathecal contents were found in <0.1% of all flies dissected. Apparent abortions rates varied significantly between dissectors and occurred at frequencies of 0.8–4.5% in G. m. morsitans and 0.3–2.8% in G. pallidipes. The lowest estimates give the best picture of the field situation. Abortion rates were higher in flies caught on electric nets than in trapped flies where the rate was only 0.15%, indicating that reproductive losses are negligible for most of the year at Rekomitjie. The rates did, however, increase to >2% when mean temperatures exceeded 27 °C and flies were captured in artificial refuges. There was little effect of ovarian age on the abortion rate, but the frequency of empty uteri declined markedly with age – with a suggestion, however, that it might increase again in the oldest flies. A knowledge of the rates of reproductive loss is important for the construction of realistic models of the dynamics of tsetse populations.

The predictive value of endometrial stripe thickness in patients with suspected ectopic pregnancy who have an empty uterus at ultrasonography.

Prior research suggests that, in patients with empty uteri at ultrasonography, endometrial stripe thickness may be predictive of ectopic pregnancy or the likelihood of obtaining chorionic villi after a dilatation and evacuation procedure (D+E). However, it is unclear whether the predictive value of endometrial stripe thickness is confined to patients with low beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG) values. To determine whether endometrial stripe thickness is predictive of the risk of ectopic pregnancy or the likelihood of obtaining chorionic villi after D+E in patients with beta-hCG values >1,000 mIU/mL or < or =1,000 mIU/mL. In an urban academic ED, the authors conducted a retrospective chart review of consecutive ED patients from August 1991 to August 1997 with abdominal pain or vaginal bleeding, a positive beta-hCG value, and an empty uterus by transvaginal ultrasound examination. Patients were divided into four groups-group 1: endometrium thin, beta-hCG value < or =1,000 mIU/mL; group 2: endometrium thick, beta-hCG value < or =1,000 mIU/mL; group 3: endometrium thin, beta-hCG value >1,000 mIU/ mL; and group 4: endometrium thick, beta-hCG value >1,000 mIU/mL. The secondary analysis was limited to patients who had a D+E performed within 48 hours of the ED visit. The risks of ectopic pregnancy and the likelihoods of obtaining chorionic villi after D+E were compared using chi-square or Fishers' exact test where appropriate, with a p-value of 0.05 being significant. 224 patients were enrolled in the initial analysis. Intergroup differences in the frequency of ectopic pregnancy were of borderline significance (p = 0.08). However, when the comparison was limited to the groups with beta-hCG values < or =1,000 mIU/mL, the predictive value of endometrial stripe thickness reached statistical significance (group 1: 27/99 [27%], group 2: 2/28 [7%], p = 0.05). 79 patients had a D+E performed. Intergroup differences in the rate of obtaining chorionic villi were significant (p = 0.002). Group 1 had the lowest frequency of having chorionic villi identified (4/26 [15%]) and was the only group in which villi were obtained in fewer than 50% of cases. Endometrial stripe thickness may be predictive of the risk of ectopic pregnancy and the likelihood of obtaining chorionic villi at D+E. However, its predictive value appears to be confined to patients with beta-hCG values < or =1,000 mIU/mL.

Distribution of cobalt in parasitic helminths

The distribution of cobalt in parasitic helminths belonging to the trematodes, cestodes or nematodes was determined by the use of an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The results of these analyses have demonstrated that growing trematodes (smaller forms) with active oogenesis and spermatogenesis contained more cobalt that older forms (large or very old adults) with empty uteri and large lobulated testes. In cestodes the neck region of cysticerci and immature proglottids of adults showed more cobalt than the cyst portion of cysticerci and hydatid or mature and gravid proglottids of worms. Similarly, the youngest endogenous daughter cysts of Echinococcus granulosus showed more cobalt in their walls than those of larger forms. The element was found more concentrated in nematode eggs than in adult females, irrespective of species of host.

Foetal development in red deer (cervus elaphus) 2. Chemical composition of the foetus and associated tissues

ABSTRACTThe concentrations of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), fat and ash were determined for 18 singleton red deer foetuses of known gestational ages within the range 72 to 224 days (term = 233 days) and for their associated placentae and empty uteri. In addition, concentrations of Ca, P, Mg, Na and K were determined for the foetuses. The amniotic and allantoic fluids were analysed for DM, CP and ash content.Concentrations of all measured components in the foetal fluids increased with foetal age (except for amniotic ash concentration which decreased) and linear regressions were fitted. Concentrations in the empty uterus remained constant. Given the equations previously fitted relating the weight of these tissues t o foetal age, the weights of their chemical constituents could then be calculated at various stages.Concentrations of all measured components in the foetus increased with foetal age (except for foetal K which remained constant). In the placenta, concentrations of DM and CP tended to increase while those of fat and ash decreased. The actual weights of the chemical constituents were related to both foetal age and foetal weight by further regression analysis in the form of extended Gompertz equations.Estimates are made of the daily rates of accretion of chemical components in the foetus and adnexa and these provide data against which to assess the additional nutrient demands of pregnancy in the red deer hind.

Reproductive abnormality and loss in natural populations ofGlossina pallidipesAusten (Diptera: Glossinidae) in Kenya

AbstractThe nature, frequency and causes of reproductive loss were investigated in populations ofGlossina pallidipesAust. in western and coastal localities in Kenya. Daily collections from biconical traps in which females were trapped for varying periods up to 30 h were followed by a series of hourly captures which gave less biased data. Ovarian abnormalities and insemination failure were rare, and abortion was the only major source of loss of fecundity. Total reproductive loss was within the range 1·60–1·97% (0·23% ovarian loss plus 1·37% abortions or 1·74% total empty uteri) in western Kenya (Lambwe Valley) and 0·99–1·71% from less comprehensive data at the coast. The incidence of empty uteri was higher in daily than in hourly collections, due mainly to premature parturitions brought about by the stressful effects of prolonged confinement in traps and handling. Abortions were significantly more frequent in females which had ovulated but were not yet parous than in older, parous flies. No relationship between the frequency of abortion and climate, tsetse density or pathogen or parasite infection could be demonstrated.

Studies on reproduction in prolific ewes

SummaryEstimates of the energy contents of the foetuses, placentae, foetal fluids, empty uteri and maternal empty bodies at 88 and at 144 days of pregnancy were obtained from a comparative slaughter experiment on Finnish Landrace × Dorset Horn ewes. Over this period the mean daily intakes of metabolizable energy (ME) for ewes with twin, triplet or quadruplet foetuses were 11·2, 12·0 and 12·2 MJ respectively (low plane of feeding) or 14·4, 15·2 and 15·3 MJ (high plane of feeding), total numbers of ewes being 15, 23 and 7 respectively. The diet contained 8·2 MJ of ME and 153 g crude protein per kg dry matter. All six categories of ewe lost energy from maternal empty-body tissues between 88 and 144 days at mean daily rates of 2·7, 4·1 and 4·9 MJ (low plane) and 1·4, 2·7 and 3·6 MJ (high plane), according to litter size. Rates of energy deposition in the gravid uterus were 0·72, 0·93 and 1·07 MJ/day respectively, and were not affected by plane of nutrition. Estimates of heat production from these balance data were confirmed by direct measurements made on about half of the ewes.Estimates of the gross efficiency of utilization for foetal growth of the combined energy from maternal tissue and from ME intake, after allowing for maternal main–tenance, were similar for each litter size but were 0·14 and 0·11 on the low and high planes of feeding respectively. Consideration of these together with other published observations suggested that efficiency of utilization of ME in pregnancy increases linearly with the ME concentration of the diet and at concentrations below 10 MJ/kg dry matter is less than the efficiency of utilization of energy derived from maternal tissue loss.

Studies on reproduction in prolific ewes:5. The accretion of nutrients in the foetuses and adnexa

SUMMARYThe concentrations of dry matter, crude protein, fat and ash and of Ca, P, Mg, Na and K were determined for 22 sets of twin foetuses, 33 of triplets and 11 of quadruplets of known gestational ages within the range 55–145 days. In addition, determinations were made of the concentrations of dry matter, crude protein, fat and ash in their associated placentae and empty uteri, and of dry matter, nitrogen, energy and ash in the foetal fluids. The dry matter, crude protein and fat concentrations in the placentae increased with foetal age and decreased with increasing litter size. Ash concentrations were unaltered. There was no effect of litter size or foetal age on the concentration of nutrients in the empty uteri. Dry matter and nitrogen concentrations in the fluids increased with foetal age but were independent of litter size, whereas ash concentrations increased with litter size but not with age.The form of the mathematical model for foetal growth is considered in relation to the estimation of rates of accretion and the estimation of the differences in composition to be expected between foetuses that are heavy and others that are light relative to their age. When the weights of the foetal constituents were fitted by Gompertz equations extended to include foetal weight as an allometric term, the effects of litter size on foetal composition could be estimated from the foetal weights for each size of litter. Concentrations of dry matter and of most constituents in the foetuses became less as numbers of foetuses increased, irrespective of stage of gestation.A description of the changing composition of the growing foetuses was provided by specific growth rates calculated from the fitted equations. With minor exceptions, derived estimates of foetal concentrations of each constituent were found to agree quite well with most previously published estimates for ovine foetuses, but similar agreement on daily accretion rates was not to be expected in view of the sensitivity of such estimates to the choice of model for foetal growth. Rates of accretion in the gravid uterus increased up to about 5 weeks before parturition and tended to level off thereafter, but most of them still increased slightly over the last 2 weeks, even in ewes bearing triplets or quadruplets. Taking account of the changes in the maternal body of the ewes, it was concluded that although the prolific ewes incurred a substantial energy deficit, and could not have consumed sufficient of the diet to avoid this, their intakes in late pregnancy were nevertheless adequate to support the high rates of accretion of protein and of minerals in the gravid uterus.

The Effect of Luteinizing Hormone Releasing Hormone (L.H.R.H.) on Serum L.H. and Ovarian Growth in Turkeys

Serum L.H. of non-laying turkey hens (NL.) was significantly higher than serum LH of layers (L.). All NL. hens showed a marked increase in serum L.H. within 5 min. of an i.v. injection of 20 or 40 μg. of L.H.R.H. The L.H. levels of NL. hens were significantly lower at 15 min. after L.H.R.H. injection than at 5 min. The laying turkeys were erratic in their response, with clear cut, small rises in L.H. occurring only in some individuals with hard shelled eggs in utero. Hens with membranous eggs or with empty uteri failed to respond to the L.H.R.H. While F.S.H./L.H. injections caused significant ovarian and oviducal growth, L.H.R.H. given by daily i.m. injection for 7 days or twice daily i.v. injection for 6 days failed to do so. Subcutaneous implants of 1 mg. of L.H.R.H. in polyacrylamide gel led to prolonged elevation in serum L.H.R.H. and increased serum L.H. for about 12 hr. but caused no change in ovarian or oviducal weights.

Ovoviviparity in the Monogenetic Trematode Polystomoidella oblonga

Thirty adult individuals of Polystomoidella oblonga (Wright, 1879) Price, 1939, were recovered from the urinary bladder of an adult, gravid, female Sternotherus odoratus (Latreille), the common musk turtle. This host was obtained from the shore of Lake Iamonia, Leon County, Florida, in November 1959. The parasite is relatively common in the bladders of several turtles of eastern North America; reports of its occurrence are summlarized by Sproston (1946). Of the 30 flukes in the present collection, 5 had a single egg in the uterus, 8 others had empty uteri, and the remaining 17 each had in utero an immature fluke in addition to an

Experimental therapy in clonorchis infections.

Utilizing the method worked out by Faust and Khaw, as presented in the preceding paper, for estimating the number of Clonorchis worms present in the bile passages of laboratory animals, on the basis of the average daily egg count from weighed samples of stools, the authors have tested the effect of gentian violet and mercurochrome on cats and dogs. Both mercuro-chrome and gentian violet, administered orally in the form of salol coated pills, have a direct effect on egg-production in Clonorchis, in that they greatly accelerate the speed of production. Under these conditions eggs are immature when laid and are frequently imperfect and non-viable.This phenomenon of hyperproductivity of Clonorchis ova after therapeusis is not directly dependent on the clonorchicidal effect of the dye. In the mercurochrome series living worms with empty uteri were recovered some days after hyperproduction of ova had been observed, in numbers consistent with the previous worm estimate. This appears to refute the idea that the i...