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WELCOME Clinical Conference I

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I. DhakalB.V.Sc.&A.H. VIIIth Semester, TU/IAAS, Rampur,

Chitwan

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS OF TRANSRECTAL ULTRASONOGRAPHY FOR

REPRODUCTIVE MANAGEMENT OF CATTLE AND BUFFALOS

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Abstract

Evaluation of the reproductive tract is an essential aspect of both Cattle and Buffalo herd management. Transrectal palpation examinations of the cow’s genital tract are currently used by most veterinarians involved in reproductive management in Nepal. Focusing on these facets, a present review has been carried out mainly aiming the knowledge of the Ultrasound and its potential to obtain an optimal accuracy in the diagnosis of physiological and pathological ovarian structures. This review presents the main features of ultrasonographic characteristics of follicles, corpora lutea (with or without a cavity), follicular and lutenized cysts and the reliability. The result of review reveled that Practical applications of transrectal ultrasonography in cattle and buffalo practice include evaluation of cyclicity status, accurate diagnosis of uterine and ovarian pathology, early identification of non-pregnant cattle, detection of twin pregnancies and embryonic mortality, and response to therapy or estrus synchronization treatments. Study also revealed that diagnostics can be performed earlier and more accurately with transrectal ultrasonography than with transrectal palpation. Portable, functional, and cost-effective ultrasound equipment is now commercially available. It’s utilization by practitioners will greatly benefit to the dairy industry.

Key words: Transrectal Ultrasonography, Reproductive management, Transrectal palpation

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Introduction

Evaluation of the reproductive tract is an essential aspect of both Cattle and Buffalo herd management.

The real-time ultrasonography is a recent development for studying reproductive functions in animal scieces. (Mohamed, 2010)

Application of real time ultrasonography in veterinary practice has developed to become the most efficient diagnostic tool for managing reproduction.

Transrectal palpation, ultrasonography is commonly used to examine and evaluate the cow’s reproductive tract.

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Continue...

Transrectal ultrasonography is performed through the introduction of an ultrasound transducer (probe) into the rectum.

This enables the architecture of the ovaries, uterus, reproductive vasculature and surrounding structures to be visualised and evaluated.

Practical applications of ultrasound by bovine practitioners for routine reproductive examinations of cattle is the next contribution this technology is positioned to make to the livestock industry.

Early pregnancy diagnosis is important in reproductive management in order to rebreed the non-pregnant animals as soon as possible.

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Ultrasonography is also useful for investigating members of the herd with poor fertility due to cyclic abnormalities or pathologic conditions affecting the ovaries and/or uterus

Ultrasonography is a simple, reliable, non-invasive imaging technique without side effects and since its development in the early 1950s

Palpation of the reproductive tract is the most common approach to pregnancy diagnosis in Nepal.

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Objectives of Review

General Objectives To know the practical application of

Ultrasound and its potential to to diagnose physiological and pathological ovarian structure.

Specific Objective To know the feature of different reproductive

structures. To evaluate the Transrectal palpation and

transrectal Ultrasonography use in diagnostic purpose.

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Features of Ultrasonographic characteristics

Follicles Appear as a dark ,delineated

anechogenic structure surroundded by fine wall and with diameter less than 25mm

Hyperechogenic area at distal end help in demarcation

Ovarian follicles

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Corpus Luteum

Echogenicity increase during diestrus

Mature CL appear as grayish, echogenic area with a line of demarcation visible between it and ovarian stroma

Diameter of central cavity vary from 2 to 22 mm ,highest at 10th day

Corpus Luteum

Follicles

Corpusluteum

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Uterus

Non-pregnant uterus Different echogenic appearances

depending on the stage of the oestrous cycle.

Bovine in oestrus: the endometrium becomes oedematous , endometrial folds become more prominent.

periovulatory period: the uterine lumen appears anechoic due to mucus accumulation.

Mucus within uterine lumen

Endometrium

Non-pregnant uterus

Allantoic fluid

ConceptusAmnioticmembrane

30-day pregnancy

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Twin

Twin pregnancies can be accurately identified using transrectal ultrasonography by 40–70 days post breeding/AI

The presence of two or more CL gives an indication of cows which may develop a twin pregnancy

Foetus

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Foetal Sex

Foetal sex is determine by evaluating the location of the genital tubercle (precursor to the penis and clitoris).

Foetal sex is accuratelydetermine from day 55–60 post ovulation

Accurate identification of foetal sex may be useful for dairy herd management programmes.

Frontlimbs

Umbilicalcord

Hind limbs

Genitaltubercle

Male foetus

Female foetus

HindlimbsTail

Genitaltubercle

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Reproductive tract pathology

Conditions affecting fertility such as cystic ovarian disease and

endometritis/pyometra can be accurately identified and treated

appropriately.

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Ovarian cyst(more than 25mm)

Follicular cyst Thin walled, uniformly

fluctuating likely to rupture during manipulation

Anechogenic, Thickness of the wall is less than 3mm

Lutealcyst(30-76%) Thicker wall made by luteal

tissue , feel firmer ,hyperechogenic distal wall with wall thikness more than 3mm

Thicker wall of luteal tissue

34 mm diameterluteal cyst

Luteal cyst

45 mm diameterfollicular cyst

Thin wall

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Endometritis/pyometra

Endometritis Clinical endometritis :

purulent or mucopurulent uterine discharge present

Subclinical endometritis : no uterine discharge, fertility is negatively affected

Ultrasound exam include accumulation of intrauterine fluid containing echogenic particles (‘snowy’ appearance)

Thickening of the endometrium due to endometrial oedema and inflammation.

Uterus

(Muco) purulent material inuterine lumen

Endometritis

Pyometra

Purulent material in uterinelumen

Uterus

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Pyometra

Compared to manual palpation, the differences between uterine enlargement due to pregnancy and pyometra are easily recognisable

While foetal fluids in the uterus appear anechoic, pyometra appears as distension of the uterine lumen with contents of mixed echogenicity.

If there is no evidence of a foetus, foetal membranes or placentomes on ultrasound examination - cow with pyometra.

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Table . Day of first detection of ultrasonographically identifiablecharacteristics of the bovine conceptus (Adapted from Curran et al., 1986).

First day detected

Characteristic Mean Range

Embryo proper 20.3 19 to 24

Heartbeat 20.9 19 to 24

Allantois 23.2 22 to 25

Spinal cord 29.1 26 to 33

Forelimb buds 29.1 28 to 31

Anmion 29.5 28 to 33

Eye orbit 30. 2 29 to 33

Hindlimb buds 31.2 30 to 33

Placentomes 35.2 33 to 38

Split hooves 44.6 42 to 49

Fetal movement 44.8 42 to 50

Ribs 52.8 51 to 55

S.N. Ultrasonography Transrectal palpation

1 Done with specific machine Done manually with hand

2 Require simple handlingprocedures &interpretation

Require high expertisation

3 Pd detected in earlier 26 day Only by expertise as early as 30’s day

4 Foetus can be visualised Foetus cannot be visualised

5 Viability can be checked Viability cannot be checked

6 Can detect the sex of the foetus Cannot differentiate the sex of the foetus

7 Can detect the previously died and recently died foetus

Cannot differentiate that

8 Pyometra can be determined Pyometra cannot be determined

9 Age of the foetus also can be determined Age of the foetus cannot be determined

10 Less risky as there is no disturbance to the foetus even in early pregnancy

High risk is associated as there is disturbance to the foetus in early pregnancy

11 Less chances of abortion due to disturbances of ultrasonography

More chances of abortion and deformed foetus if not done properly

12 Early ,exat and correct diagnosis of reproductive disorder prevents economic loss

Less chances to save such economic loss as compared to transrectal ultrasonography

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Conclusion

Transrectal ultrasonography is a very effective diagnostic tool for evaluating reproductive status in dairy cattle; timing and accuracy of the diagnosis are the most important advantages.

Small and portable scanners with affordable prices is expected that use of this technology by practitioners will greatly benefit the dairy industry (cattle and buffalo production)

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Conclusion....

The Practical applications of transrectal ultrasonography in cattle and buffalo practice include evaluation of cyclicity status, accurate diagnosis of uterine

and ovarian pathology, early identification of non-pregnant cattle,

detection of twin pregnancies and embryonic mortality

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Conclusion....

Transrectal ultrasonography performed diagnostics earlier and more accurately than with transrectal palpation.

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References

Hanzen , Ch., M. Pieterse , O. Scenczi and M. Drost , The Veterinary Journal, 2000, Relative accuracy of the identification of ovarian structures in the cow by Ultrasonography and palpation per rectum.

Cliff Lamb , G. , and Paul M. Fricke, Department of Dairy Science, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Ultrasound – early pregnancy diagnosis and fetal sexing.

Colazo, M.G,, Ambrose DJ, Kastelic JP, Practical uses for transrectal ultrasonography in reproductive management of cattle , Alberta Agriculture, Food, and Rural Development, Edmonton, AB, T6H 5Z2, Canada Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Research Centre.

Kimberly, P. ,, 2012, Bovine reproduction Clinical ultrasound booklet with Easi-Scan, BCF technology.

Fricke, P.M., and G. Cliff Lamb , Proceedings, The Applied Reproductive Strategies in Beef Cattle Workshop, September 5-6, 2002, Manhattan, Kansas Practical applications of Ultrasound for Reproductive management of beef and dairy cattle.

Medana, S., Mohamed,, A.M.AbdEl-Aty , Advances in ultrasonography and its applications in domestic ruminants and other farm animals reproduction

Giuseppina, T, Maria, Journal of Buffalo Science, 2012, Ultrasonography and Reproduction in Buffalo.

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Aknowledgement

Asst. Prof. Dr. Bhumi Nandan Devkota Dr. Krishna Kaphle Chet Raj Pathak Grihamani Nepal Ganesh Pun

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE