Pregnant Sheep in a Farm Environment Did Not Develop Anaemia

Abstract

Simple SummaryAnaemia refers to a low red blood cell count and is common during pregnancy in women. Anaemia has been reported in sheep undergoing surgery during pregnancy for biomedical research projects. The incidence and severity of anaemia during pregnancy in sheep is unknown. Three groups of sheep were established: non-pregnant; pregnant with a single lamb; and pregnant with twin lambs. The stage of pregnancy was known as the sheep were mated on a known date and pregnancy was confirmed 50 days later by ultrasound examination. During pregnancy, blood samples were collected to measure red cells in the blood and protein levels. Samples were also collected to ensure that the sheep did not have any risk factors for anaemia, such as nutritional deficiency and internal parasites. Anaemia did not occur in any sheep during the study. Anaemia did not develop during pregnancy and red cell counts and protein levels were similar between each group. All the sheep lambed as expected, except for one that was expecting twins delivered a single lamb.AbstractThe aim of this study was to document the haematological profile of pregnant ewes throughout gestation. Sheep were divided into three groups (n = 8 per group): non-pregnant, singleton, or twin pregnancy. Blood samples were collected every 14 days from day 55 of gestation for haemoglobin concentration; packed cell volume; total protein; and albumin concentration. On days 55 and 125 of gestation blood was collected for trace element estimation: soluble copper and zinc; glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx); and methylmalonic acid (MMA). Pooled faecal samples were collected on days 55, 97, and 139 of gestation. Pasture cuts were collected on days 97 and 153 of gestation. The haematology and protein concentrations were not different between groups throughout the study. Copper concentration increased in all animals during the study (p < 0.0001). Zinc concentration was lowest in the singleton and twin pregnant sheep on day 55 of gestation (p = 0.04). GSHPx was not different between groups during the study. MMA decreased in all animals during the study (p < 0.0001), but was not different between groups. Faecal samples were consistently negative for strongyle and nematode eggs, and coccidian oocysts. The pasture was good quality. Pregnant sheep in a farm environment with normal trace element status, no parasites, and an adequate diet, did not develop anaemia (PCV < 0.27).

Pre-Partum Supplementation with Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids on Colostrum Characteristics and Lamb Immunity and Behavior after a Mild Post-Weaning Aversive Handling Period

“…Maternal blood variables right after birth were unaffected by pre-natal diets, agreeing with other studies and confirming that optimal nutritional levels do not alter maternal blood parameters at the end of pregnancy [ 42 , 43 ]. Mean hematocrit and hemoglobin concentrations were within normality, although lower values in ewes with lower BCS (data not shown) indicate the importance of an adequate body condition during pregnancy to minimize anemia risk and other health problems.…”

Comparison of hematological parameters between single and twin pregnancies in Dorper ewes during gestation, lambing, and postpartum

“…The influence of pregnancy on the erythrogram has been studied in humans to elucidate the development of anemia. In women, physiological anemia, or anemia due to hemodilution, and hypervolemia in pregnant women has been noticed with a 40% increase in the volume of circulating blood (FORTAGNE & SCHAFER, 1989;MBASSA & POULSEN, 1991;MBASSA & POULSEN, 1992;BARRY & ANTHONY, 2008;MUSK et al, 2017). Research has been carried out in Brazil to study the influence of pregnancy, parturition, and peripartum on the blood count in cattle (OLIVEIRA et al, 2019), goats (VIANA et al, 2002;VIANA et al, 2003), and sheep (PEREIRA et al, 2015;BEZERRA et al, 2017).…”

“…Other authors have evaluated the hematological profiles of sheep during pregnancy and lactation in different countries and breeds such as in the Merino (JELÍNEK et al, 1986;MUSK et al, 2017), Austrian Karakul (BAUMGARTNER & PERNTHANER, 1994), Sakiz-Ivesi (YOKUS et al, 2004), Bighorn (BORJESSON et al, 2000), Tsigai (ANTUNOVIC et al, 2011), Awassi (BADAWI & AL-HADITHY, 2014), Himalayan Gaddi (SHARMA et al, 2015), Barki (KANDIEL et al, 2016), and "fattailed" (ISLAM et al, 2018) sheep.…”

Anaemia and Hypoproteinaemia in Pregnant Sheep during Anaesthesia

“…However, intraoperative anaemia in pregnant sheep has been reported previously [3,4]. In addition, it has been demonstrated that the cause of intraoperative anaemia is not pregnancy alone as pregnant sheep in a farm environment did not develop anaemia [5].…”