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Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic... Sep 2023Clinical signs in 4 cases of salmonellosis in cats included vomiting, diarrhea (2 cases each), fever, dystocia, icterus, and seizures (1 case each). Three cats died, and...
Clinical signs in 4 cases of salmonellosis in cats included vomiting, diarrhea (2 cases each), fever, dystocia, icterus, and seizures (1 case each). Three cats died, and one was euthanized. Grossly, all cats were in poor body condition and had yellow-to-dark-red perianal feces (3 cases), oral and ocular pallor (2 cases) or icterus (1 case), fluid or pasty yellow intestinal contents (4 cases), white or dark-red-to-black depressed areas on the hepatic surface (2 cases), yellow abdominal fluid with swollen abdominal lymph nodes (1 case), and fibrin strands on the placental chorionic surface (1 case). Histologically, all cats had necrotizing enterocolitis and random hepatocellular necrosis. Other histologic findings included mesenteric (4 cases) or splenic (2 cases) lymphoid necrosis, and endometrial and chorioallantoic necrosis (1 case). Gram-negative bacilli were observed within neutrophils and macrophages in the intestinal lamina propria (4 cases), liver, spleen, lymph node, endometrium, and placenta (1 case each). Aerobic bacterial culture on frozen samples of small intestine, mesenteric lymph node, lung, and liver yielded subsp. . Serotyping was consistent with Enteritidis (cases 1, 3) and Typhimurium (cases 2, 4).
Topics: Pregnancy; Cats; Female; Animals; Salmonella Infections, Animal; Placenta; Salmonella; Salmonella enterica; Necrosis; Cat Diseases
PubMed: 37329122
DOI: 10.1177/10406387231181389 -
Nature Communications Nov 2023The timely onset of female parturition is a critical determinant for pregnancy success. The highly heterogenous maternal decidua has been increasingly recognized as a...
The timely onset of female parturition is a critical determinant for pregnancy success. The highly heterogenous maternal decidua has been increasingly recognized as a vital factor in setting the timing of labor. Despite the cell type specific roles in parturition, the role of the uterine epithelium in the decidua remains poorly understood. This study uncovers the critical role of epithelial SHP2 in parturition initiation via COX1 and COX2 derived PGF2α leveraging epithelial specific Shp2 knockout mice, whose disruption contributes to delayed parturition initiation, dystocia and fetal deaths. Additionally, we also show that there are distinct types of epithelium in the decidua approaching parturition at single cell resolution accompanied with profound epithelium reformation via proliferation. Meanwhile, the epithelium maintains the microenvironment by communicating with stromal cells and macrophages. The epithelial microenvironment is maintained by a close interaction among epithelial, stromal and macrophage cells of uterine stromal cells. In brief, this study provides a previously unappreciated role of the epithelium in parturition preparation and sheds lights on the prevention of preterm birth.
Topics: Animals; Female; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Mice; Pregnancy; Biochemical Phenomena; Labor, Obstetric; Parturition; Premature Birth; Uterus
PubMed: 37963860
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43102-8 -
Polish Journal of Veterinary Sciences Dec 2023The Black-and-White (BW) breed, which until recently had dominated in Europe, was replaced by the Holstein-Friesian (HF) breed. As a result, the incidence of dystocia...
The Black-and-White (BW) breed, which until recently had dominated in Europe, was replaced by the Holstein-Friesian (HF) breed. As a result, the incidence of dystocia has increased. Dystocia occurs most frequently in heifers, and it is associated with high calf weight and/or too narrow pelvic openings in heifers. The aim of this study was to evaluate retrospectively the effects of pelvic dimensions and rump angle on calving ease in two cattle breeds. The research was carried out in four barns where BW and HF cattle were used. The course of parturition was evaluated in 317 heifers (BW, n=169; HF, n=148) based on direct observations. Calves were weighed, external and internal pelvic measurements were performed (using the Rice pelvimeter), and rump angle was determined in heifers. Based on the course of parturition, heifers of both breeds were divided into easy calving (EC) and difficult calving (DC) groups. The frequency of DC was 24.3% in HF heifers and 13.1% in BW heifers. In comparison with DC heifers, EC heifers had a larger pelvic area, in particular the internal dimensions of the bony pelvis, and a higher rump angle. In comparison with BW heifers, HF heifers had a smaller rump angle, a narrower pelvis and a lower ratio of pelvic area to calf weight. High dystocia rates in HF heifers could result from a relatively large fetus size and a less preferable pelvic size and rump angle. High variation in the internal pelvic dimensions in HF heifers indicates that the incidence of dystocia can be reduced through selection for a larger pelvic size and the optimal rump angle.
Topics: Cattle; Pregnancy; Animals; Female; Birth Weight; Retrospective Studies; Pelvis; Dystocia; Parturition; Cattle Diseases
PubMed: 38088415
DOI: 10.24425/pjvs.2023.148288 -
NPJ Biofilms and Microbiomes Sep 2023Constipation and systemic inflammation are common in late pregnant and lactating sows, which cause health problems like uteritis, mastitis, dystocia, or even stillbirth,...
Constipation and systemic inflammation are common in late pregnant and lactating sows, which cause health problems like uteritis, mastitis, dystocia, or even stillbirth, further influencing piglets' survival and growth. Probiotic supplementation can improve such issues, but the beneficial mechanism of relieving constipation and enhancing gut motility remains underexplored. This study aimed to investigate the effects and mechanism of probiotic supplementation in drinking water to late pregnant sows on constipation, inflammation, and piglets' growth performance. Seventy-four sows were randomly allocated to probiotic (n = 36) and control (n = 38) groups. Probiotic treatment significantly relieved sow constipation, enhanced serum IL-4 and IL-10 levels while reducing serum IL-1β, IL-12p40, and TNF-α levels, and increased piglet daily gain and weaning weight. Furthermore, probiotic administration reshaped the sow gut bacteriome and phageome structure/diversity, accompanied by increases in some potentially beneficial bacteria. At 113 days of gestation, the probiotic group was enriched in several gut microbial bioactive metabolites, multiple carbohydrate-active enzymes that degrade pectin and starch, fecal butyrate and acetate, and some serum metabolites involved in vitamin and amino acid metabolism. Our integrated correlation network analysis revealed that the alleviation of constipation and inflammation was associated with changes in the sow gut bacteriome, phageome, bioactive metabolic potential, and metabolism.
Topics: Pregnancy; Animals; Female; Swine; Lactation; Inflammation; Butyrates; Constipation; Probiotics
PubMed: 37741814
DOI: 10.1038/s41522-023-00434-z -
Best Practice & Research. Clinical... Dec 2023Appropriate use of ventouse or obstetric forceps as options in the management of the second-stage of labor is good medical practice. The instruments are not inherently... (Review)
Review
Appropriate use of ventouse or obstetric forceps as options in the management of the second-stage of labor is good medical practice. The instruments are not inherently dangerous, however, the manner in which they are used may be. In addition to a working knowledge of the instruments, the operator must have the willingness to abandon an unsuccessful procedure. Awareness that failure of assisted vaginal delivery is more likely in women with BMI >30, hence, gives pause to consider trial in theatre with early recourse to cesarean delivery if unsuccessful Awareness that obesity is associated with increased risk of intrapartum complications, such as the need for second-stage assistance to achieve delivery, shoulder dystocia and postnatal complications, such as obstetric anal sphincter injury and febrile morbidity.
Topics: Pregnancy; Female; Humans; Delivery, Obstetric; Cesarean Section; Labor, Obstetric; Obesity; Parturition
PubMed: 37683519
DOI: 10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2023.102403 -
Reproduction in Domestic Animals =... Sep 2023Ultrasonography can be used for canine pregnancy diagnosis, determination of gestational age, assessing foetal maturation and readiness for birth, monitoring high-risk... (Review)
Review
Ultrasonography can be used for canine pregnancy diagnosis, determination of gestational age, assessing foetal maturation and readiness for birth, monitoring high-risk pregnancies, assessing foetal distress, evaluating bitches in dystocia and foetal gender determination. As the quality and resolution of ultrasound machines have improved, the clinician's abilities to utilize ultrasound as an integral part of reproductive evaluation of all aspects of pregnancy have exponentially increased. This paper reviews the use of ultrasonography throughout pregnancy and the advances made in the interpretation of captured images.
Topics: Female; Pregnancy; Animals; Dogs; Dystocia; Fetal Development; Gestational Age; Reproduction; Ultrasonography; Dog Diseases
PubMed: 37724659
DOI: 10.1111/rda.14446 -
The Veterinary Clinics of North... Apr 2024"Fescue toxicosis" and reproductive ergotism present identical toxidromes in late-gestational mares and, likely, other equids. Both toxic syndromes are caused by... (Review)
Review
"Fescue toxicosis" and reproductive ergotism present identical toxidromes in late-gestational mares and, likely, other equids. Both toxic syndromes are caused by ergopeptine alkaloids (EPAs) of fungal origin, and they are collectively referred to as equine ergopeptine alkaloid toxicosis (EEPAT). EPAs are produced by either a toxigenic endophyte (Epichloë coenophiala) in tall fescue and/or a nonendophytic fungus (Claviceps purpurea), infecting small grains and grasses. EEPAT can cause hypoprolactinemia-induced agalactia/dysgalactia, prolonged gestation, dystocia, and other reproductive abnormalities in mares, as well as failure of passive transfer in their frequently dysmature/overmature/postmature foals. Prevention relies on eliminating exposures and/or reversing hypoprolactinemia.
Topics: Animals; Horses; Female; Pregnancy; Ergot Alkaloids; Endophytes; Horse Diseases; Festuca; Poaceae
PubMed: 38281896
DOI: 10.1016/j.cveq.2024.01.001 -
The Journal of Dairy Research Aug 2023We investigated the relationship between dam's pelvic and calf's dimensions with dystocia due to fetopelvic disproportion in the Holstein breed and estimated risk...
We investigated the relationship between dam's pelvic and calf's dimensions with dystocia due to fetopelvic disproportion in the Holstein breed and estimated risk factors and dystocia probability. For this purpose, external pelvic measurements were performed in 402 heifers 15 ± 11 (1-38) days ante-partum and specific conformation measurements were obtained from their calves 1.7 ± 1.2 post-partum. Dystocia was defined as the inability of the heifer to complete parturition spontaneously within 120 min after the appearance of the amnion with normal presentation, position and posture or as having definite obstetrical obstacles within 60 min. Overall and fetopelvic disproportion dystocia incidence was 10.4% and 5.2%, respectively. Heifer measurements mainly influenced overall dystocia, whereas calf conformation was related solely with fetopelvic dystocia. Specifically, heifers with a small pelvis (hip width <49.95 cm, pelvic inlet area <333.2 cm, pelvic volume <7799.2 cm) had 2.8 to 3.5 times greater incidence of overall dystocia (19.0-20.8%) compared to heifers with a larger pelvis (incidence of 7.0-7.6%). Regarding calf factors, sex (male calves), body weight, chest circumference and fetlock joint circumference significantly increased the odds of experiencing dystocia due to fetopelvic disproportion compared with female, lighter or smaller calves. In a backward elimination model with independent variables treated as continuous, an area under the ROC curve of 0.66 regarding the prediction of overall dystocia based on heifer pelvic length, and of 0.64 for the prediction of fetopelvic dystocia based on fetlock joint circumference was found. The combination of the two variables in one model improved the ROC area to 0.71 regarding dystocia due to fetopelvic disproportion, reaching acceptable level of discrimination. Our findings indicate that dystocia due to fetopelvic disproportion in heifers is mainly influenced by the fetal side. Additionally, the estimation of pelvic dimensions of the dam before parturition and specific conformation characteristics of the calf during parturition, especially fetlock joint circumference, could aid obstetricians and herdsmen regarding dystocia probability and parturition surveillance.
Topics: Pregnancy; Animals; Cattle; Female; Male; Birth Weight; Dystocia; Pelvis; Body Weight; Parturition; Cattle Diseases
PubMed: 37587723
DOI: 10.1017/S0022029923000468 -
Tierarztliche Praxis. Ausgabe G,... Oct 2023Dystocia represents a life-threatening condition for mare and foal. Morbidity and mortality rates due to a difficult birth, as well as the influence on fertility of the... (Review)
Review
Dystocia represents a life-threatening condition for mare and foal. Morbidity and mortality rates due to a difficult birth, as well as the influence on fertility of the mare were analyzed, based on a review of publications. This was aggravated by the fact that no standardized diagnostic code was used and that most publications do not clearly describe how extensively the examinations were performed beforehand. Retentio secundinarum is the most common complication caused by dystocia. Other complications are injuries to the soft birth canal and the colon. These occur more frequently after surgical obstetrics than following assisted vaginal deliveries. Performing a fetotomy increases the risk of injury to the birth canal. After a caesarean section, the risk for retained placenta increases significantly. In order to evaluate the possibility of medical progress over time, mortality rates of mare and foal were investigated and divided in surgical and conservative obstetrics within the period of 1970-1990 and 1991-2021. The average maternal mortality rate following caesarean section amounted to 18% in the time period between 1970 and 1990 and 14% between the years from 1991-2021. After fetotomy, the two determined mortality rates amounted to 29% and 10% for the time between 1970 and 1990. In the period 1991-2021, the rate varies between 4% and 44% with an average mortality rate of 14%. Following controlled vaginal delivery, the average mortality rate is 9%. Literary sources were however only available for the current time period and range between 6% and 29%. The morbidity and mortality rate of foals is very high. Following caesarean section on average 53% of foals are dead on delivery, with a range of 13-79% in case reports from the years 1991-2021. The number of dead foals in the context of conservative obstetrics is of a similar scale. Postnatal foal diseases are largely due to intrapartum hypoxia during dystocia and obstetric injury. In consequence of a difficult delivery, mares experience reduced fertility. In numerous cases this however may be compensated by pausing from further breeding in the same year. The number of cases evaluated in this context however remains too small to advocate any recommendations for breeding following incidents of dystocia.
Topics: Animals; Horses; Female; Pregnancy; Cesarean Section; Dystocia; Delivery, Obstetric; Parturition; Morbidity
PubMed: 37956674
DOI: 10.1055/a-2180-2182 -
American Journal of Obstetrics and... Mar 2024Childbirth is a defining moment in anyone's life, and it occurs 140 million times per year. Largely a physiologic process, parturition does come with risks; one mother...
Childbirth is a defining moment in anyone's life, and it occurs 140 million times per year. Largely a physiologic process, parturition does come with risks; one mother dies every two minutes. These deaths occur mostly among healthy women, and many are considered preventable. For each death, 20 to 30 mothers experience complications that compromise their short- and long-term health. The risk of birth extends to the newborn, and, in 2020, 2.4 million neonates died, 25% in the first day of life. Hence, intrapartum care is an important priority for society. The American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology has devoted two special Supplements in 2023 and 2024 to the clinical aspects of labor at term. This article describes the content of the Supplements and highlights new developments in the induction of labor (a comparison of methods, definition of failed induction, new pharmacologic agents), management of the second stage, the value of intrapartum sonography, new concepts on soft tissue dystocia, optimal care during the third stage, and common complications that account for maternal death, such as infection, hemorrhage, and uterine rupture. All articles are available to subscribers and non-subscribers and have supporting video content to enhance dissemination and improve intrapartum care. Our hope is that no mother suffers because of lack of information.
Topics: Pregnancy; Infant, Newborn; Female; Humans; Uterine Rupture; Delivery, Obstetric; Labor, Obstetric; Labor, Induced; Parturition
PubMed: 38462251
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2024.02.005