Relationships between fetal biometry, maternal factors and birth weight of purebred domestic cat kittens

Gatel, Laure; Rosset, Émilie; Chalvet‐Monfray, Karine; Buff, Samuel; Rault, DN

doi:10.1016/j.theriogenology.2011.07.003

Cited by 18 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…As expected on the basis of the literature, litter size was inversely proportional to birth weight, with weight reduction for each additional pup per litter [26,35]. …”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 65%

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A National Census of Birth Weight in Purebred Dogs in Italy

Groppetti

Pecile

Palestrini

et al. 2017

Animals

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Simple SummaryBirth weight is a key factor for neonatal mortality and morbidity in most mammalian species. The great morphological variability in size, body weight and breed, as well as in skeletal and cranial conformation makes it challenging to define birth weight standards in dogs. A total of 3293 purebred pups were surveyed to study which maternal aspects can determine birth weight considering head and body shape, size, body weight and breed in bitches, as well as litter size and sex in pups. In our sample, multivariate analysis outcomes suggested that birth weight and litter size were directly proportional to maternal size. The maternal body shape influenced both birth weight and litter size, whereas the maternal head shape had impact only on birth weight. Sex differences in birth weight were found. Birth weight and litter size also varied among breeds. The results of the present study could have practical implications allowing one to identify pups in need of admission to intensive nursing care, as occurs in humans. A deeper knowledge of the factors that significantly influence birth weight could positively affect the canine breeding management helping to prevent and reduce neonatal mortality.AbstractDespite increasing professionalism in dog breeding, the physiological range of birth weight in this species remains unclear. Low birth weight can predispose to neonatal mortality and growth deficiencies in humans. To date, the influence of the morphotype on birth weight has never been studied in dogs. For this purpose, an Italian census of birth weight was collected from 3293 purebred pups based on maternal morphotype, size, body weight and breed, as well as on litter size and sex of pups. Multivariate analysis outcomes showed that birth weight (p < 0.001) and litter size (p < 0.05) increased with maternal size and body weight. Birth weight was also influenced by the maternal head and body shape, with brachycephalic and brachymorph dogs showing the heaviest and the lightest pups, respectively (p < 0.001). Birth weight decreased with litter size (p < 0.001), and male pups were heavier than females (p < 0.001). These results suggest that canine morphotype, not only maternal size and body weight, can affect birth weight and litter size with possible practical implications in neonatal assistance.

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“…As expected on the basis of the literature, litter size was inversely proportional to birth weight, with weight reduction for each additional pup per litter [26,35]. …”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 65%

“…The same observation was reported in cats with birth weight increasing as maternal weight and height increased [35]. Similarly, observational epidemiological studies have revealed that both maternal height and weight are associated with birth weight in babies [7].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 65%

A National Census of Birth Weight in Purebred Dogs in Italy

Groppetti

Pecile

Palestrini

et al. 2017

Animals

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“…Body weights of the kittens in our study were 55–143 g, which is similar to the newborn weights of 65–165 g in 24 purebred queens of 11 different breeds (Gatel et al., ), but less variable that those (30–170 g) reported in a large questionnaire‐based study of Sparkes et al. ().…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 85%

Are foetal ultrasonographic and maternal blood progesterone measurements near parturition reliable predictors of the time of birth in the domestic cat?

Keiser

Reichler

Balogh

2017

Reprod Domestic Animals

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In cats, accuracy of parturition day prediction by ultrasonographic measurement of foetal structures is decreasing towards the end of gestation. Foetal measurements during the last days of pregnancy are scarce. We determined foetal biparietal, abdominal and eye diameter (BPD, AD and ED, respectively) by ultrasonography as well as maternal blood progesterone (P4) within five days of delivery to predict parturition date and calculate accuracy of prediction. Foetal BPD at birth was compared with newborn kitten head diameter (HD). Kitten HD, crown-rump length (CRL) and body weight were compared by breed and gender. Ultrasonography measurements were carried out on the day of parturition in 14 queens, and on days 62-63 after the first mating and repeated 24-72 hr later in ten other cats. Accuracy of parturition day prediction using BPD and AD was determined based on the equations of Beccaglia et al. (2008) Veterinary Research Communications, 32(Suppl 1), S99 and Garcia Mitacek et al. (2015) Theriogenology, 84, 1131. Progesterone was measured at the time of presentation and repeated 24-72 hr later if parturition did not occur. Data were analysed with linear regression, t test, Mann-Whitney U test, one-way anova and Kruskal-Wallis test. There was a moderate relationship between BPD, days before birth (DBB) and litter size. AD and DBB had a low agreement, and ED was not associated with DBB. BPD at birth was significantly related to HD. The accuracy of parturition day prediction using BPD and AD was 27-53% and 17-35%, respectively. Kitten HD was associated with body weight, and both were inversely related to litter size. Newborn biometric measurements differed by breed but not by gender. Progesterone decreased towards parturition and reached 3.18 ± 1.68 ng/ml on the day of delivery. In conclusion, close to birth, the combination of foetal ultrasonography and maternal blood P4 rather than each as a sole predictor of parturition is recommended.

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“…Ultrasonographic examination is a well-described method of pregnancy diagnosis in cattle 1 , sheep 2,3 , goats 4 , horses 5 , companion animals 6,7 , and other domestic animal species. This imaging modality has also been identified as a valuable tool for pregnancy detection and fetal age estimation in several species of captive cervids, including fallow deer 8–11 , red deer 12–16 , Hokkaido sika deer 17 , and reindeer 18,19 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Vertical transmission is an area of interest among researchers studying infectious diseases, including prion disease, and these investigations require efficient methods for evaluating the effects of maternal infection on reproductive performance. Ultrasonographic examination is a well-established tool for diagnosing pregnancy and assessing fetal health in many animal species 1–7 , including several species of farmed cervids 8–19 , however this technique has not been described in Reeves’ muntjac deer. Here we describe the application of transabdominal ultrasound to detect pregnancy in muntjac does and to evaluate fetal growth and development throughout the gestational period.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Transabdominal Ultrasound for Pregnancy Diagnosis in Reeves' Muntjac Deer

Walton

McNulty

Nalls

et al. 2014

JoVE

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Reeves’ muntjac deer (Muntiacus reevesi) are a small cervid species native to southeast Asia, and are currently being investigated as a potential model of prion disease transmission and pathogenesis. Vertical transmission is an area of interest among researchers studying infectious diseases, including prion disease, and these investigations require efficient methods for evaluating the effects of maternal infection on reproductive performance. Ultrasonographic examination is a well-established tool for diagnosing pregnancy and assessing fetal health in many animal species1–7, including several species of farmed cervids8–19, however this technique has not been described in Reeves’ muntjac deer. Here we describe the application of transabdominal ultrasound to detect pregnancy in muntjac does and to evaluate fetal growth and development throughout the gestational period. Using this procedure, pregnant animals were identified as early as 35 days following doe-buck pairing and this was an effective means to safely monitor the pregnancy at regular intervals. Future goals of this work will include establishing normal fetal measurement references for estimation of gestational age, determining sensitivity and specificity of the technique for diagnosing pregnancy at various stages of gestation, and identifying variations in fetal growth and development under different experimental conditions.

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Relationships between fetal biometry, maternal factors and birth weight of purebred domestic cat kittens

Cited by 18 publications

References 21 publications

A National Census of Birth Weight in Purebred Dogs in Italy

A National Census of Birth Weight in Purebred Dogs in Italy

Are foetal ultrasonographic and maternal blood progesterone measurements near parturition reliable predictors of the time of birth in the domestic cat?

Transabdominal Ultrasound for Pregnancy Diagnosis in Reeves' Muntjac Deer

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