Estimation of gestational ages in the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) from published prenatal growth curves

Abstract

This report compares estimated gestational ages from published cubic spline curves to gestational ages estimated retrospectively from delivery dates in 28 pregnancies from ten common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus). Both CRL- and BPD-based estimates of gestational age were closely correlated with delivery-based gestational age estimates. Of the three ultrasound machines used, the one with 16 shades of gray and a sequential linear array overestimated gestational age during early pregnancy, based on CRL measures. Measures from the other two machines (64 or 264 shades of gray; linear sector and annular array or electronic phase array) were similar and resulted in a correlation of the two estimates of gestational age of 0.94 and a mean difference between the two estimates of 0.16 days with 80% of CRL-based gestational age estimates being within +/- 5 days of the delivery-based estimate. The reliability of BPD-based estimates of gestational age was strongly related to pregnancy outcome. BPD-based estimates underestimated gestational age in poor outcome pregnancies (i.e., those in which infants died within 7 days of birth) but not in good outcome pregnancies. The combined CRL- and BPD-based estimates on poor outcome pregnancies suggest that there was less growth in BPD in late gestation for those pregnancies that resulted in nonviable offspring. For good outcome pregnancies, the correlation between BPD-based and delivery-based estimates of gestational age was 0.871 and the mean difference between the two estimates was -0.06 days with 83.3% of BPD-based estimates falling within +/- 5 days of delivery-based estimates.

Uterine evaluation and gestation diagnosis in owl monkey (Aotus azarai infulatus) using the B mode ultrasound

“…Higher frequencies allow a better definition, but less penetration [16]. Studies with neotropical primates indicate the frequencies 5; 7.5 and 10 MHz as the most utilized [5,17,21,27].…”

Pattern of maternal serum corticotropin‐releasing hormone concentration during pregnancy in the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus)

“…Two females were monitored over two different pregnancies, for a total of 11 pregnancies for which CRH data were collected. The pregnancies were monitored via ultrasound examination, and gestational age was estimated with the use of published fetal growth curves [Tardif et al, 1998b] and the actual date of parturition. For nine of the 11 pregnancies, at least three samples were taken from each female during gestation; in the other two pregnancies, only a single sample was taken, for a total of 39 samples all together (Table I).…”

Reproduction and Breeding of Nonhuman Primates

“…Jaquish et al (1995) provided growth curves for crownerump length and biparietal diameter in marmosets from around day 30 to term (Figures 8.4,8.5). Tardif et al (1998) demonstrated that these curves could be used to reliably predict delivery dates to within AE 5 days.…”