Comparison between allantochorion membrane and amniotic sac detection by per rectal palpation for pregnancy diagnosis on pregnancy loss, calving rates, and abnormalities in newborn calves

Abstract

The objectives of the present investigation were to evaluate the pregnancy diagnosis by detection of either the allantochorion membrane (FMS) or amniotic sac (ASP) by per rectum palpation (PRP) during late embryonic or early fetal period on pregnancy loss (PRL) at reexamination, calving rates, and abnormalities in newborn calves. A controlled randomized blind design with 800 lactating dairy pregnant cows diagnosed by transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) between Days 35 and 57 of gestation from one dairy farm were included. The cows were randomly divided according to detection of allantochorion membrane (FMS group; n = 264), detection of amniotic sac (ASP group; n = 266), and TRUS (control [CON] group; n = 270). TRUS was considered as the criterion standard method of comparison. The entire PRP was performed by one experienced veterinarian. Then, all the cows were reexamined only by TRUS between 2 and 4 weeks later by two independent veterinarians to assess PRL. The calving rate one (number of cows calved divided by the number of cows initially pregnant) and calving rate two (number of cows calved divided by the number of cows pregnant at reexamination) for each group was calculated. All abortions and stillborns were necropsied, and calves alive were followed for 5 days. The overall initial PRL (between initial pregnant cows and reexamination) for FMS, ASP, and CON groups was 7.4% (19/258), 8.8% (23/262), and 9.2% (24/260), respectively (P = 0.75). The overall late PRL (between reexamination and calving) for FMS, ASP, and CON groups was 4.2% (9/213), 5.7% (12/209), and 4.2% (9/216), respectively (P = 0.71). The calving rate one for FMS, ASP, and TRUS groups was 79.1% (204/258), 75.2% (197/262), and 79.6% (207/260), respectively (P = 0.63). The calving rate two for the same groups was 85.4% (204/239), 82.4% (197/239), and 87.7% (207/236), respectively (P = 0.27). The number of fetuses aborted late, premature, and mature dead from FMS, ASP, and CON groups was 6, 4, and 5, respectively (P = 0.85), and no abnormalities at necropsy were detected. One stillborn male calf with atresia coli after 281 days of gestation from a cow examined by ASP at Day 51 was diagnosed. It was concluded that the use of either FMS or ASP for pregnancy diagnosis during late embryonic or early fetal period did not increase the PRL, affect calving rates, or produce calves with congenital abnormalities.

Rectal palpation for pregnancy checks in cows – the past or an alternative to modern diagnostic methods

“…In cows in which rectal examination was performed between days 34 and 41 of gestation, the percentage of embryo/fetal death was 14.7, while in the control group (no palpation per rectum) -13.4% (41). Both the diagnosis by examining the amniotic membrane (fetal membrane slip (FMS)) and amniotic sac palpation (ASP) did not have a significant impact on the total percentage of calving rate (number of cows calved divided by the number of cows pregnant at reexamination) and did not increase the pregnancy loss (45). None of these studies had a significant impact on the percentage of early and late pregnancy losses and the number of dead calves (41,44,45).…”

“…Previous data indicate that in the case of palpation performed before the 35 th day of pregnancy, the loss may amount to 5.8%, while the diagnosis performed in 35-40 or > 45 is associated with losses in the range of 6.0 and 0.8% (43). A great deal of recent information on the possible invasiveness of palpation can be found in American studies (41)(42)(43)(44)(45). To verify the thesis concerning the impact of palpation on early and late pregnancy losses, a number of studies were carried out (41,44,45).…”

“…A great deal of recent information on the possible invasiveness of palpation can be found in American studies (41)(42)(43)(44)(45). To verify the thesis concerning the impact of palpation on early and late pregnancy losses, a number of studies were carried out (41,44,45). In one of them, the pregnancy was diagnosed on day 34-43 solely on the basis of the palpation of the amniotic sac.…”

“…Both the diagnosis by examining the amniotic membrane (fetal membrane slip (FMS)) and amniotic sac palpation (ASP) did not have a significant impact on the total percentage of calving rate (number of cows calved divided by the number of cows pregnant at reexamination) and did not increase the pregnancy loss (45). None of these studies had a significant impact on the percentage of early and late pregnancy losses and the number of dead calves (41,44,45). Prenatal mortality up to 100 days after palpation in pregnancies diagnosed less than 35 days after insemination, between 35 and 45 days and over 45 days was more frequent in cows with postnatal period disorders, in particular endometriosis (33).…”

Buzağılarda Atresia Coli’de Kolonoskopik Tanı: 19 Olgu (2016-2018)

“…Etiology of this condition has been theorized to involve disruption of the blood supply to the bowels through local or genetic factors, thus causing stenosis or atresia [3] . Early rectal palpation have been said to cause the malformation [4]  İletişim (Correspondence)  +90 362 3121919/1195  taylan.onyay@omu.edu.tr although there is also evidence to the contrary, suggesting that early palpation is safe [5,6] . Genetic inheritance of this disease is proposed, and there is proof of this for some breeds, like Holstein-Friesian [7] , but it remains suspect in many others [2,3] .…”