Ultrasonographic diagnosis of twins in two pregnant bitches: case report / Diagnóstico ultrassonográfico de gestação gemelar em duas cadelas: relato de caso

Multiple pregnancies in humans account for only 3% of pregnancies, 97-98% of which are twin pregnancies and the morbimortality is higher in the monochorionic twins when compared to dichorionic ones. The canine species is naturally multiparous, but the diagnosis of monochorionic twin pregnancy is not common. The objective of this report was to describe the ultrasonographic diagnosis of monochorionic twin pregnancies in two bitches [Pug (case 1) and Shih tzu (case 2)]. It was possible to verify the presence of one gestational vesicle containing two fetuses in each female by observing two heads or two bodies within the same placental site. These fetuses presented adequate viability and normal organogenesis. Their development was similar to the other fetuses. In case 1 they were stillborn and smaller than the other five live-born fetuses. The twins in case 2 were born alive, but they also appeared smaller when compared to the littermates. The gestational risks associated with this condition in pregnant bitches are still unknown, however, there are reports of fetal death in monochorionic pregnancies in this species. Therefore, ultrasonographic exam during pregnancy allows an early monochorionic diagnosis and monitoring the fetal viability could bring health benefits to both the female and the littermates.(AU)

As gestações múltiplas em humanos correspondem a apenas 3% das gestações, sendo 97-98% dessas gestações gemelares. Sabe-se que a morbimortalidade fetal é maior em gêmeos monocoriônicos do que nos dicoriônicos. A espécie canina é naturalmente multípara, mas o diagnóstico gestacional de gêmeos monocoriônicos não é comum. O objetivo deste relato é descrever o diagnóstico ultrassonográfico de gêmeos monocoriônicos em duas cadelas, sendo uma da raça Pug (caso 1) e outra da raça Shih-Tzu (caso 2). Foi possível verificar a presença de uma única vesícula gestacional contendo dois fetos em cada cadela, por meio da visibilização de duas cabeças ou de dois corpos dentro de uma mesma placenta. Esses fetos apresentavam viabilidade e organogênese adequadas e o grau de desenvolvimento era similar aos demais fetos da ninhada. No caso 1, os gêmeos nasceram mortos e de tamanho menor que os outros cinco fetos nascidos vivos. Os gêmeos do caso 2 nasceram vivos, mas também eram pequenos em relação aos irmãos da ninhada. Os riscos gestacionais associados a essa condição em cadelas ainda não são conhecidos, no entanto já existem relatos de morte fetal em gestação monocoriônica nessa espécie. Portanto, o exame ultrassonográfico durante a gestação permite um diagnóstico precoce da monocorionicidade, e a monitorização da viabilidade fetal pode trazer benefícios para a saúde da matriz, assim como para o restante da ninhada.(AU)

Echobiometrics kidney and renal artery triplex doppler of canine fetuses / Ecobiometria renal e Doppler Triplex da artéria renal de fetos caninos

The aim of this study was to assess the sogographic parameters and biometry of canine fetal kidneys using the B mode, and to determinate the vascular index of the fetal renal arteries using the Doppler Triplex. Twenty four Shi-tzu and Pug, weighting between 4 and 10kg, aging between 4 and 6 years old were evaluated. The B mode, the fetal renal echobiometry and regularity of the renal surface, echotexture and cortex:medular ratio were evaluated during the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th weeks of pregnancy. At the same time point of the B mode evaluation, the Doppler Triplex was carried out to assess the sistolic peak velocity (SPV), end diastolic velocity (EDV), vascular resistive (RI) and pulsatility index (PI). B mode revealed no fetal renal abnormalities and echobiometry showed important measurements during fetal development (P<0.0001). The values of the fetal renal arteries index (PSV and EDV) increased during the course of the pregancy (P<0.05) and remained constant for PI and RI (P>0.05). B mode and Doppler Triplex were important tools for the assessment of fetal renal development, using echobiometry and renal arterial index in canie fetuses...

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar, por meio da ultrassonografia convencional modo B, as características sonográficas e a biometria dos rins de fetos caninos, bem como determinar os índices vasculares da artéria renal dos conceptos ao Doppler Triplex. Foram utilizadas 24 fêmeas Shi-tzu e Pugs pesando de quatro a 10 kg e com idade entre quatro e seis anos. Ao modo B, a ecobiometria renal fetal, a regularidade da superfície renal, a ecotextura e a relação córtico-medular foram avaliadas durante a quinta, sexta, sétima e oitava semanas gestacionais. Ao Doppler Triplex, durante o mesmo período em que se realizou o exame convencional, foram determinados o pico de velocidade sistólica (PVS), a velocidade diastólica final (EDV) e o índice de resistência vascular (RI) e de pulsatividade (PI). Ao modo B, não foram detectadas alterações em rins fetais, e à ecobiometria renal dos fetos, foi possível determinar medidas renais importantes, verificando-se aumento das biometrias no decorrer do desenvolvimento fetal (P<0,0001). Ao Doppler Triplex, determinaram-se os índices vasculares da artéria renal fetal, sendo que os valores para PSV e EDV aumentaram no decorrer das semanas gestacionais (P<0,05) e permaneceram constantes para PI e RI (P>0,05). Concluiu-se que o modo B e o Doppler Triplex são ferramentas importantes para a avaliação do desenvolvimento renal fetal, com a utilização da ecobiometria renal e avaliação dos indices vasculares da artéria renal de fetos caninos...

Time of initial detection of fetal and extra-fetal structures by ultrasonographic examination in Miniature Schnauzer bitches

Serial ultrasonographic examinations were performeddaily on 9 Miniature Schnauzer bitches from the 15th dayof gestation until parturition to determine the time thegestational structures were first detected. The gestationalage was timed from the day of ovulation (day 0), whichwas estimated to occur when the plasma progesteroneconcentration was >4.0ng/ml. The gestational length in 9Miniature Schnauzer bitches was found to be 63.0+/-1.7(range 61-65) days. The initial detection of the fetal andextra-fetal structures were as follows: gestational sac atday 18.0+/-0.9 (17-19); zonary placenta in the uterine wallat day 24.9+/-1.1 (23-26); yolk sac membrane at day 25.0+/-0.9 (24-26); amnionic membrane at day 27.7+/-1.0 (26-29); embryo initial detection at day 22.6+/-0.5 (22-23);heartbeat at day 23.4+/-0.5 (23-24); fetal movement at day32.5+/-0.8 (32-34); stomach at day 31.2+/-1.6 (29-33);urinary bladder at day 32.6+/-1.8 (31-35); skeleton at day34.9+/-1.6 (34-38) and kidney at day 42.2+/-0.7 (41-43).

Higroma quístico felino: Reporte de un caso / Feline cystic higroma: Case report

El higroma quístico es un tumor del sistema linfático de origen embrionario. En humanos el 75% de este tipo de malformación se localiza 20% en la nuca, 20% en la axila y 5% en el resto del cuerpo. El pronóstico depende de la asociación con otras anomalías congénitas. En medicina humana se reporta una incidencia de un caso cada 50.000 nacidos, y una mortalidad de 95 a 98%. No existen reportes de su incidencia, asociación a otras patologías y mortalidad en veterinaria. Se presenta un caso en un feto felino de raza oriental, diagnosticado mediante ecografía y confirmado luego del parto. La importancia de reconocer al higroma quístico mediante ecografía gestacional yace en la posibilidad de que esta patología cause distocias de origen fetal al aumentar el diámetro de la cintura escapular, resultando en una urgencia quirúrgica que podría preverse.

comparison of two methods used for detecting pregnancy in goat

Our objective in this study was to compare the accuracy of progesterone assay and ultrasonography especially in early pregnancy, as well as to evaluate the ultrasonography for prenatal detection of fetal number in does. A total of forty five does were used in this study. Oestrus was synchronized by PGF[2] alpha and does were kept with fertile bucks. The date of service was recorded and considered as day 0 of pregnancy. Blood samples were taken from each does during days 0, 8 and 25 after mating and serum progestrone was determined by RIA. Moreover, all animals were examined transabdominally and transvaginally using real time B-mode ultrasound unit equipped with transducer of 5 and 7 MHz. Serum progesterone concentrations of pregnant and nonpregnant does at day 25 after mating was 3.48 +/- 0.91 and 0.49 +/- 0.05 ng/ml, respectively. Accuracy of progesterone assay in pregnancy diagnosis was 78.13% for pregnancy and 100% for nonpregnancy. While, accuracy of ultrasonography was 64%, at day 25 and 100% at day 42 post breeding. The number of fetuses could be dignosed by sonography at the 8[th] week of pregnancy. It could be concluded that in goats, progesterone assay at early stage of pregnancy was most accurate as a test for non-pregnancy rather than for pregnancy. While, the real-time ultrasonography was the best and more accurate method for pregnancy diagnosis specially after 4[th] week of pregnancy. It could also be concluded that, transvaginal technique was the best one of early pregnancy diagnosis, while the transabdominal one was the best for estimation of fetal number