Advances in ultrasonography and its applications in domestic ruminants and other farm animals reproduction

Abstract

Ultrasound techniques are becoming increasingly important in animal reproduction, offering both a mean of diagnosis and a useful therapeutic tool. Accordingly, understanding the use of ultrasound technology is critical in contemporary animal sciences, since ultrasound examinations are now a routine component of diagnostic workups in reproduction. Ultrasound technology offers the assessment of pregnancy status and foetal viability early post breeding in order to identify animals that fail to conceive, improving reproductive efficiency; early identification of animals carrying twin foetuses, allowing for the implementation of differential management strategies to avoid the negative effects of twinning on general health of the mother animal and also at parturition; and the visualisation of ovarian and uterine pathologies not accurately detected via rectal palpation, allowing appropriate therapies to be implemented. In addition, determination of foetal sex in utero can be done by ultrasonography. The new information that has been generated through ultrasound has thrown light on therapeutic uses, thereby opening up new areas for research. Moreover, ultrasound-guided interventional techniques can be used for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. In this review, advances and applications of ultrasonography in domestic animal reproduction are reviewed.

Establishment of fetal age equations based on ultrasound measurements in cross-bred Holstein cows

“…The estimation of the day of pregnancy is a frequently requested application of ultrasonic imaging in cattle after aging pregnancy using fetal measurements has proven to be accurate [12,27]. Most of modern ultrasound scanners are embedded with fetal age equation of pure-bred Holstein cows based on measurements of various structures, most popularly created by White et al [22] and Kahn [23].…”

Exame do sistema genital dos animais

“…Em relação aos exames complementares, a ultrassonografia tem sido adotada como uma técnica clínica de rotina para acessar estruturas fisiológicas e patológicas do trato reprodutivo em todos as espécies de mamíferos [4,5]. Tem sido utilizada em larga escala como parte integral do exame do trato reprodutivo, sendo um método de monitoramento não invasivo e direto.…”

Ultrasonic Assessment During Pregnancy in Goats – A Review

“…Early applications of ultrasonography as a diagnostic tool utilized amplitude or A‐mode ultrasound (Medan and Abd El‐Aty 2010). The transducer receives the reflected echoes and converts them into an audible signal or peaks on an oscilloscope with a horizontal scale representing the depth of the reflecting structure (Karen et al.…”

“…The number of the foetuses can be determined up to day 100 of gestation, but the optimal time is somewhere between 40 and 70 days’ gestation (Dawson 2002; Vinoles‐Gil et al. 2010; Medan and Abd El‐Aty 2010). At 70 days and beyond, additional foetuses may lie beyond the depth of the 5 MHz linear‐array transducer (Dawson 2002).…”