Combined thickness of the uterus and placenta and ultrasonographic examinations of uteroplacental tissues in normal pregnancy, placentitis, and abnormal parturitions in heavy draft horses

Abstract

The combined thickness of the uterus and placenta (CTUP) and ultrasonographic images of uteroplacental tissues were investigated in 35 pregnant heavy draft horses in Months 7–12 of pregnancy. The mares were divided into three groups: those pathologically diagnosed as placentitis (placentitis group, n=3); those who had abortion, premature birth, or fetal malformation (abnormal group, n=7); and those who had no abnormal findings (normal group, n=25). In the normal group, CTUP increased as pregnancy progressed from Months 7 (median, 7.08 mm; range, 5.68–11.27) to 12 (13.31 mm; 7.44–16.31 mm) (P<0.05) and was higher than those reported previously in Thoroughbred, quarter, and American paint horses. Values of CTUP greater than the 75th percentile of the normal group from Months 7 (7.54 mm) to 12 (15.19 mm) were detected in 100% of the placentitis group (3/3) and in 86% of the abnormal group (6/7). Ultrasonographic images showing placental separation were obtained in 67% of the placentitis group (2/3), 29% of the abnormal group (2/7), and 20% of the normal group (5/25). Pathological placental edema and ultrasonographic images showing uteroplacental roughness or distinguishability were observed even in the normal group. These findings suggest that increased CTUP and placental separation would reflect placentitis and abnormal pregnancies and may help to detect them in heavy draft horses.

Ultrasonographic examination of equine fetal growth parameters throughout gestation in pony for Equine-Assisted Therapy

“…In the present study, the CTUP was between 6 and 9 mm in the last 2 months of gestation. These values are lower than the CTUP reported by Kimura et al [19] in heavy draft horses (approximately 13 mm) and Spanish Purebred mares (10.45 mm) on day 300 of gestation [34]. The CTUP values observed in the present study were close to those in Thoroughbred horses (range 7-10 mm on day 330 of gestation) [12,33].…”

The effects of aging and gestational month on uteroplacental vascular perfusion, and umbilical artery hemodynamics in pregnant jennies

“…The CTUP (mm) was elevated among gestational ages, which is in accordance with some studies [ 15 , 17 , 28 , 29 ], as all previous studies demonstrated that this elevation is within the normal values of the combined thickness and revealed that the placental tissue was functional and efficient during different stages of pregnancy [ 30 ]. Any abnormalities in CTUP thickness could adversely affect the maintenance of pregnancy and therefore lead to placental separation [ 31 ] and placentitis [ 32 ]. As fetal growth depends mainly on placental growth and development [ 33 , 34 ], a study found that CTUP remained within constant levels, it did not change.…”

Placentitis in Mares: A Review

“…Os lábios vulvares devem ser cheios e firmes e se encontrarem na linha media, sendo que 80% ou mais da comissura vulvar está abaixo do assoalho pélvico. Se o fechamento vulvar é incompetente, a aspiração de ar e a contaminação fecal podem ocorrer (KIMURA et al, 2018).…”

“…Além disso, os protocolos de tratamento utilizados atualmente são empíricos devido ao escasso conhecimento sobre a patogênese da doença (KIMURA et al, 2018).…”