Bovine Pregnancy Flashcards

1
Q

Modalities for pregnancy diagnosis:

A
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2
Q

How many offspring do cows usually have? Do their embryos have mobility?

A

one - monotocous

no, remains ipsilateral to the side of ovulation

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3
Q

What is the average length of gestation of cows? What kind of placenta do they have?

A

280 (279-287)

cotyledonary synepitheliochorial - placetomes connect fetus to mother, not as many layers as horses and more than other species

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4
Q

What are the 2 major sources of progesterone during bovine pregnancy?

A
  1. throughout gestation = CL
  2. 4th/5th to 8th month = placenta
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5
Q

What are the 4 cardinal signs of bovine pregnancy? When are they seen?

A
  1. amniotic vesicle - day 28-60
  2. chorioallantoic membrane slip - day 30-90
  3. placentomes (caruncles + cotyledons) - day 75-120
  4. fetus - day 60 until term
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6
Q

Why is behavior not the sole determinant as a sign of pregnancy?

A

not reliable - failure to return to estrus 18-22 days after service or artificial insemination + pregnant cows may show estrual behavior

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7
Q

What setup is recommended for transrectal palpation of the bovine reproductive tract? In what 3 ways can trauma to the cow be minimized?

A

chute, headlock, palpation rail +/- backup bar (can harm palpator if cow decides to lie down

  1. lubricant
  2. keep fingers together
  3. don’t fight the cow = observes for an arched back and wait out peristalsis
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8
Q

How can trauma to the palpator be avoided when performing reproductive exams on cows?

A

don’t palpate with arm above your shoulder

  • get a stool if need be!
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9
Q

What is the earliest time that transrectal palpation can be helpful for reproductive exams?

A

30-45 days of gestation

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10
Q

What are 6 additional supportive findings of pregnancy in cows?

A
  1. presence of CL indicates where the fetus will be
  2. inability to retract the cervix, likely due to heavy fetus
  3. fluid within or fluctuance of the uterus
  4. enlarged diameter and asymmetru of the uterine horns (could be due to pyometra)
  5. enlargement and fremitus of the uterine artery
  6. fetus ballottement
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11
Q

What is the first step in transrectal palpation of the reproductive tract?

A

retraction - grasp the cervix or intercornual ligament and pull uterus into the pelvic floor

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12
Q

How does the membrane slip feel as gestation progresses?

A
  • day 30 = thread in gravid horn
  • day 60 = string in both horns
  • day 90 = large string in both horns
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13
Q

How does bovine fetal size progress further into gestation?

A
  • day 60 = mouse
  • day 90 = rat
  • day 120 = small cat
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14
Q

How does placentome size progress further into gestation?

A
  • day 30-80 = not palpable or extremely small
  • day 90 = dime
  • day 120 = nickel/quarter
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15
Q

When is fremitus palpable?

A

day 120 - on side of pregnant horn (6 mm)

  • day 150 - side of pregnant horn (9 mm)
  • day 180 - both horns (10-12 mm)
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16
Q

Size of reproductive organs over bovine gestation:

A
17
Q

When is the amniotic vesicle palpable? What is it?

A

days 30-60

turgid, fluid-filled sac surrounding the fetus that can be palpated as a small knot or bump within the uterine horn

18
Q

Where can the chorioallantoic membrane be palpated at different stages of bovine gestation? How can it be palpated?

A
  • day 30 = gravid horn
  • day 60 = both horns

identify the cervix and retract the uterus —> grasp each horn gently between fingers and thumb and lift slightly resulting in a distinct popping sensation

19
Q

What is considered the best method for definitively diagnosing pregnancy after mid-gestation? Where is palpation most consistent?

A

placentomes —> palpate at least 3 to confirm ovaries are not being palpated, size increases with fetal age

just anterior to the cervix

20
Q

Uterine horn asymmetry:

A

fetus growth becomes more apparent as time progresses, non-gravid horn commonly becomes hidden

21
Q

What is fremitus? How/when is it palpated?

A

buzzing/vibrating sensation from the uterine artery due to increased diameter during pregnancy

traverse the broad ligament to differentiate from internal iliac arteries

110-120 days, corresponding with increased blood delivery to the uterus

22
Q

When is bilateral fremitus palpated?

A

six months into pregnancy (180 days)

  • can persist post-abortion or post partum
23
Q

What are the 3 ways of estimating how many days of gestation has passed?

A
  1. length of amniotic vesicle (30-60 days)
  2. fetal size - crown to nose, crown to rump (after 90 days)
  3. placentome size at uterine bifurcation (after 90 days)
24
Q

What are 3 hazards associated with transrectal palpation of the bovine reproductive tract?

A
  1. rectal perforation
  2. rupture of amniotic vesicle or fetal heart sac
  3. aggressive membrane slip may release PGF2α, which causes luteolysis and abortion
25
Q

What is the earliest a bovine fetus can be seen on ultrasound? What is the main purpose?

A

as early as day 24

estimate gestation age and fetal well being

26
Q

When can a bovine fetus be sexed? How is it determined?

A

day 55-60

location of genital tubercle, which seens bilobulated closer to the anus (precursor clitoris) or on the abdomen (precursor penis)

27
Q

Ovarian and uterine horn ultrasound:

A
  • corpus luteum = hyperechoic
  • follicle = hypoechoic
  • small anechoic structure = beginning of fetus (fluid of amniotic vesicle)
28
Q

Uterine horn ultrasound, day 26:

A

more prominent anechoic portion = fetal fluid

29
Q

Uterine horn ultrasound, day 27:

A

fetus!

30
Q

Uterine horn ultrasound, day 37:

A

larger fetus

31
Q

Uterine horn ultrasound, day 59:

A
32
Q

What are the genders of the fetus in the attached ultrasounds?

A

L = male, genital tubercle between hindlimbs

R = female, genital tubercle at base of tail

33
Q

What is occurring in this ultrasound?

A

fetal mummy —> fetus observed without fluid surrounding it

34
Q

Uterine ultrasound, day 200:

A

placentome

35
Q

What tests are used to confirm pregnancy of cows? When can they be used?

A

pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAGs) secreted by binucleate trophoblastic cells produced in response to fetal presence, using milk or blood samples

28 days post-breeding —> allows for early detection of open cows and pregnancy confirmation at dry-off

36
Q

What are 2 options for PAG detecting pregnancy tests in cows?

A
  1. Alertys - 28 days post-breeding and 60-70 days post-calving
  2. BioPRYN - biotracking pregnancy specific protein B 73 days post-calving
37
Q

Detection of which substances offer limited value for confirming bovine pregnancy? What are 2 emerging research topics?

A

progesterone and estrone sulfate after 100 days of gestation —> levels tend to fluctuate during pregnancy, while PAGs are only produced with the presence of a fetus

  1. early pregnancy factor - days 2-140
  2. interferon-tau stimulated genes - days 14-26