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Yang MK, Yeh RH, Lee CJ, Yeh YH, Chen YH, Banhazi T, Tu PA. Pregnancy maintenance and fetal loss assessment in Holstein cows through analyzing pregnancy-associated glycoproteins in milk. Theriogenology 2024; 217:11-17. [PMID: 38219409 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2024.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
Fetal loss (FL) from the 45th day of gestation until calving can impose a significant economic burden on dairy farmers, resulting in lost profits and increased production costs. Pregnancy-associated glycoprotein (PAG) is commonly used for detecting pregnancy in cows. PAG is secreted by binucleated trophoblast cells of the placenta and regulated by more than 24 genes. The purpose of this study was to determine the PAG threshold for FL and a probability of pregnancy maintenance until calving based on milk PAG levels. Our results reveal that primiparous and multiparous cows that maintained pregnancy until the 40th week exhibited higher PAG sample-negative (SN) values in their milk in the 6th week of gestation than did those that experienced FL later in gestation. Pregnant cows with higher PAG SN values in the 6th week of gestation were more likely to maintain their pregnancies. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for predicting the probability of pregnancy maintenance was 0.722 for our prediction model. On the other hand, a milk PAG SN value of <0.192 indicated 95 % confidence that FL would occur between the 7th and 40th weeks of gestation. Milk PAG testing is a noninvasive sampling technique that does not induce additional stress in lactating cows. The study reveals that PAG SN values increase significantly in Holstein cows during the 6th week of gestation. The predictive model developed was effective in forecasting pregnancy outcomes up to the 40th week of gestation or calving. The model's performance is moderately good for field application and could be a useful tool for dairy producers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Kuew Yang
- Northern Region Branch, Taiwan Livestock Research Institute, Ministry of Agriculture, Miaoli, 368, Taiwan
| | - Ruei-Han Yeh
- Animal Products Processing Division, Taiwan Livestock Research Institute, Ministry of Agriculture, Tainan, 71246, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Jung Lee
- Livestock Management Division, Taiwan Livestock Research Institute, Ministry of Agriculture, Tainan, 71246, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Hsin Yeh
- Northern Region Branch, Taiwan Livestock Research Institute, Ministry of Agriculture, Miaoli, 368, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Hsuan Chen
- Northern Region Branch, Taiwan Livestock Research Institute, Ministry of Agriculture, Miaoli, 368, Taiwan
| | - Thomas Banhazi
- National Taiwan University, International College, Changxing st, Da'an, Taipei, 10672, Taiwan
| | - Po-An Tu
- Northern Region Branch, Taiwan Livestock Research Institute, Ministry of Agriculture, Miaoli, 368, Taiwan.
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2
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Bruinjé TC, Morrison EI, Ribeiro ES, Renaud DL, LeBlanc SJ. Associations of inflammatory and reproductive tract disorders postpartum with pregnancy and early pregnancy loss in dairy cows. J Dairy Sci 2024; 107:1630-1644. [PMID: 37820756 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2023-23976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Our objective was to describe associations of postpartum health with pregnancy and pregnancy loss (P-LOSS) from d 19 to 40 after first postpartum artificial insemination (AI) in lactating Holstein cows. In 2 commercial dairy herds in Ontario, Canada, 468 Holstein cows were enrolled 21 ± 3 d before expected parturition when body condition score (BCS) and lameness were assessed. Serum total Ca, haptoglobin (Hp), and nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) were measured at 2 and 6 ± 2 d in milk (DIM). Blood β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) measurement and metritis detection were done at 4, 8, 11, and 15 ± 2 DIM. Cows were examined for endometritis (ENDO; ≥11.5% polymorphonuclear cells in endometrial cytology) and purulent vaginal discharge (PVD) at 35 ± 3 DIM. Lameness was assessed again at 21 and 49 ± 3 DIM and BCS at 63 ± 3 DIM. First postpartum AI occurred primarily (86%) based on detection of estrus by activity monitors, on average (± standard deviation) at 65 ± 9 DIM, and the remaining cows received timed AI at 86 ± 18 DIM. Serum progesterone (P4) was measured on d 8 and 12 after AI, and pregnancy at first AI (P/AI) was estimated by the expression of ISG15 in peripheral blood leukocytes at d 19 after AI and by pregnancy-associated glycoprotein in serum at d 29, 33, and 40 after AI. Each metabolite (Ca, Hp, NEFA, and BHB) was categorized above or below a cut-point identified with receiver operating characteristic curve analysis associated with P/AI confirmed by ultrasound at d 33 from a larger data set. Data were analyzed using multivariable mixed logistic regression models, accounting for parity, health variables, covariates (season at calving and at AI, milk yield at first Dairy Herd Improvement Association test [categorized into terciles], AI method, and DIM), and herd. The proportions of cows classified pregnant at d 19, 29, 33, and 40 after AI were 64%, 54%, 50%, and 45%, respectively. At d 19 after AI, P/AI was less likely in cows diagnosed with ENDO (52% vs. 69%) or PVD (54% vs. 67%). At d 29, P/AI was less likely in cows with Hp ≥1.54 g/L at 2 DIM (38% vs. 55%) or PVD (35% vs. 56%). Both metritis and ENDO were associated with decreased P/AI at d 40 after AI. Cows diagnosed with metritis had greater risk of P-LOSS from d 19 to 29 (43% vs. 22%) or from d 33 to 40 (37% vs. 7%) than cows without metritis. From d 29 to 33, the risk of P-LOSS was greater in cows with NEFA ≥0.73 mM at 2 DIM (13% vs. 5%) or BCS ≤2.75 at 63 DIM (14% vs. 5%). The concentration of P4 on d 8 after AI was positively associated with P/AI at d 29, 33, and 40, and negatively associated with P-LOSS from d 19 to 29. Postpartum health disorders, particularly reproductive tract disease, can have detrimental effects on early pregnancy establishment and on pregnancy maintenance from d 19 to 40 after AI.
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Affiliation(s)
- T C Bruinjé
- Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - E I Morrison
- Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - E S Ribeiro
- Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - D L Renaud
- Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - S J LeBlanc
- Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada.
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Codognoto VM, de Souza FF, Cataldi TR, Labate CA, de Camargo LS, Esteves Trindade PH, da Rosa Filho RR, de Oliveira DJB, Oba E. Proteomics approach reveals urinary markers for early pregnancy diagnosis in buffaloes. J Proteomics 2024; 290:105036. [PMID: 37879565 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2023.105036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to compare urine proteomics from non- and pregnant buffaloes in order to identify potential biomarkers of early pregnancy. Forty-four females underwent hormonal ovulation synchronization and were randomly divided into two experimental groups: inseminated (n = 30) and non-inseminated (n = 14). The pregnant females were further divided into two groups: pregnant at Day 12 (P12; n = 8) and at Day 18 (P18; n = 8) post-ovulation. The non-pregnant group was also subdivided into two groups: non-pregnant at Day 12 (NP12; n = 7) and at Day 18 (NP18; n = 7). Urine was collected from all females on Days 12 or 18. The samples were processed for proteomics. A total of 798 proteins were reported in the urine considering all groups. The differential proteins play essential roles during pregnancy, acting in cellular transport and metabolism, endometrial remodeling, embryonic protection, and degradation of defective proteins. We suggest that some proteins from our study can be considered biomarkers for early pregnancy diagnosis, since they were increased in pregnant buffaloes. SIGNIFICANCE: Macromolecules have been studied for early pregnancy diagnosis, aiming to increase reproductive efficiency in cattle and buffaloes. Direct methods such as rectal palpation and ultrasonography have been considered late. Thus, this study aimed to compare urine proteomics from non- and pregnant buffaloes to identify potential biomarkers of early pregnancy. The differential proteins found in our study play essential roles during pregnancy, acting in cellular transport and metabolism, endometrial remodeling, embryonic protection, and degradation of defective proteins. We suggest that these proteins can be considered possible biomarkers for early pregnancy diagnosis since they were increased in the pregnant buffaloes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viviane M Codognoto
- Department of Veterinary Surgery and Animal Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, São Paulo State University, UNESP, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fabiana F de Souza
- Department of Veterinary Surgery and Animal Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, São Paulo State University, UNESP, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Thais R Cataldi
- Department of Genetic, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, Brazil
| | - Carlos A Labate
- Department of Genetic, Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, Brazil
| | - Laíza S de Camargo
- Department of Veterinary Surgery and Animal Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, São Paulo State University, UNESP, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Pedro H Esteves Trindade
- Department of Veterinary Surgery and Animal Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, São Paulo State University, UNESP, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Roberto R da Rosa Filho
- Department of Animal Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Campus São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Diego J B de Oliveira
- Department of Veterinary Surgery and Animal Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, São Paulo State University, UNESP, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Eunice Oba
- Department of Veterinary Surgery and Animal Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, São Paulo State University, UNESP, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil.
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Haque MH, Narayan S, Islam MS, Akter M, Hasan MM, Islam R, Rashid MB. A simple, inexpensive and portable on-farm test for pregnancy diagnosis and ovary status in cows via chemical analysis of urine. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2023; 677:113-118. [PMID: 37572390 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.08.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/14/2023]
Abstract
Ovary dysfunction causes an aberrant endocrine surge at various reproductive cycle stages, negatively impacting fertility and economic profit. Optimizing dairy cow performance requires determining ovarian status and detecting early pregnancy. Still, little to no information is available about the diagnosis of the ovarian condition using urine chemical analysis at the field level in Bangladesh. This study aimed to develop a simple, inexpensive and portable on-farm technique for pregnancy diagnosis and ovary status determination in cows via chemical urine analysis. Fifty reproductively healthy cows were recruited from different donor farms. Prior to artificial insemination (AI), all selected cows were placed in a single ovsynch program. TAI (timed artificial insemination) was carried out. Urine was routinely collected from Day 0-55 days at estrus cycle stages for routine chemical analysis using barium chloride (BaCl2), followed by commercially available protein strip tests. The developed techniques for pregnancy and ovary status diagnosis in cows were validated with rectal palpation (RP). Barium chloride (BaCl2) analysis of urine revealed white precipitation corresponding to a mature follicle in the ovary during estrus and colorless precipitation corresponding to the corpus luteum during the diestrus period. Positive pregnancy was indicated by the presence of a colorless precipitate in the BaCl2 test, and a protein value of less than 100 mg/dl was found in the protein strip test. The maximum accuracy (42/50, 84%) was observed between 25 and 35 days, as confirmed by RP. Perplexing results were seen 45-55 days after AI, between pregnancies and luteal cystic disease. In both cases, we discovered that the BaCl2 precipitation was colorless. However, the protein value in the context of luteal cystic disease was found to be higher than 100 mg/dl. The barium chloride test, followed by protein strip tests, is a simple and portable way to diagnose pregnancy and determine ovarian status in cows at the field level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Hakimul Haque
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh
| | - Shamarendra Narayan
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur, 5200, Bangladesh
| | - Md S Islam
- Department of Anatomy and Histology, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur, 5200, Bangladesh
| | - Mousumi Akter
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur, 5200, Bangladesh
| | - Md M Hasan
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur, 5200, Bangladesh
| | - Rakibul Islam
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur, 5200, Bangladesh
| | - Mohammad B Rashid
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur, 5200, Bangladesh.
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Ask-Gullstrand P, Strandberg E, Båge R, Berglund B. Genetic parameters of pregnancy loss in dairy cows estimated from pregnancy-associated glycoproteins in milk. J Dairy Sci 2023; 106:6316-6324. [PMID: 37479576 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2022-23007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2023]
Abstract
This study examined the feasibility of using pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAG) in milk within breeding for pregnancy maintenance and assessed the genetic variation in pregnancy loss traits. A total of 374,206 PAG samples from 41,889 Swedish Red (SR) and 82,187 Swedish Holstein (SH) cows were collected at monthly test-day milkings in 1,119 Swedish herds. Pregnancy status was defined based on PAG levels and confirmed by data on artificial insemination (AI), calving, and culling from d 1 postinsemination to calving. Pregnancy loss traits were defined as embryonic loss (diagnosed 28 d to 41 d after AI), fetal loss (42 d after AI until calving), and total pregnancy loss. Least squares means (± standard error, %) and genetic parameters were estimated using mixed linear models. Heritability was estimated to be 0.02, 0.02, and 0.03 for embryonic loss, fetal loss, and total pregnancy loss, respectively. Cows with pregnancy loss had lower PAG concentrations than cows which successfully maintained pregnancy and calved. PAG recording was limited to monthly test-day milking, resulting in low estimated embryonic loss (17.5 ± 0.4 and 18.7 ± 0.4 in SR and SH, respectively) and higher fetal loss (32.8 ± 0.5 and 35.1 ± 0.5 in SR and SH, respectively). Pregnancy loss might have occurred earlier but remained undetected until the next test-day milking, when it was recorded as fetal loss rather than embryonic loss. Estimated genetic correlation between embryonic and fetal pregnancy loss traits and classical fertility traits were in general high. Identification of novel genetic traits from PAG data can be highly specific, as PAG are only secreted by the placenta. Thus, PAG could be useful indicators in selection to genetically improve pregnancy maintenance and reduce reproductive losses in milk production. Further studies are needed to clarify how these results could be applied in breeding programs concurrent with selection for classical fertility traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Ask-Gullstrand
- Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, PO Box 7023, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - E Strandberg
- Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, PO Box 7023, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - R Båge
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, PO Box 7054, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - B Berglund
- Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, PO Box 7023, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
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6
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Tinning H, Edge JC, DeBem THC, Deligianni F, Giovanardi G, Pensabene V, Meirelles FV, Forde N. Review: Endometrial function in pregnancy establishment in cattle. Animal 2023; 17 Suppl 1:100751. [PMID: 37567655 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2023.100751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The endometrium is fundamentally required for successful pregnancy in ruminants and species where the posthatching conceptus undergoes a protracted elongation and peri-implantation phase of pregnancy. Moreover, there are substantial waves of pregnancy loss during this pre- and peri-implantation period of pregnancy the precise source of which has not been clearly defined i.e., the maternal uterine contribution to this loss. Understanding the molecular interactions required for successful pregnancy in cattle will allow us to intervene to support pregnancy success during this vulnerable window. The endometrium contributes to most key developmental milestones of pregnancy establishment, including (1) contributing to the regulation of the oestrus cycle, (2) nourishing the preimplantation conceptus, (3) responding to the conceptus to create a more receptive microenvironment, (4) providing essential biophysical support, and (5) signalling and producing factors which affect the mother systemically. This review will summarise what we currently know about conceptus-maternal interactions as well as identify the gaps in our knowledge that could be filled with newer in vitro model approaches. These include the use of microfluidics, organ-on-a-chip devices, and bioinformatic approaches. This will help maximise food production efficiency (both meat and dairy) and decrease the environmental burden, while enhancing our understanding of the fundamental processes required for successful implantation in cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Tinning
- Discovery and Translational Sciences Department, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - J C Edge
- Discovery and Translational Sciences Department, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - T H C DeBem
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of Sao Paulo, Pirassununga 13635-900, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - F Deligianni
- Discovery and Translational Sciences Department, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - G Giovanardi
- Discovery and Translational Sciences Department, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom; School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - V Pensabene
- School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - F V Meirelles
- School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - N Forde
- Discovery and Translational Sciences Department, Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom.
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Akköse M. Comparative evaluation of two commercial pregnancy-associated glycoproteins tests for early detection of pregnancy in dairy cattle. Theriogenology 2023; 200:11-17. [PMID: 36738574 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2023.01.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine and compare the diagnostic accuracy of two pregnancy-associated glycoproteins tests (IDEXX on-farm pregnancy test [OFPT] and IDEXX rapid visual pregnancy test [RVPT]) for early pregnancy diagnosis in dairy cattle. Blood samples were collected from Holstein cows (n = 317) by coccygeal venipuncture 28-31 days after artificial insemination (AI). The OFPT and RVPT were performed on the farm within 2 h after blood collection using whole blood or blood serum. Transrectal ultrasonography (USG) was performed for pregnancy diagnosis on day 32 post-AI as a gold standard. One-hundred fourteen cows were diagnosed as pregnant and 203 were determined to be nonpregnant. Furthermore, embryonic mortality was detected in four of the nonpregnant animals, based on fragmented/dispersed embryonic membranes and the absence of heartbeat. Sixteen and 14 false positive results (13 jointly for both tests) were obtained for the RVPT and OFPT, respectively. Three false negative results were obtained for the RVPT. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy for the OFPT were 100%, 93.1%, 89.1%, 100% and 95.6%, and for RVPT were 97.4%, 92.1%, 87.4%, 98.4% and 94.0%, respectively. The ability of both tests to distinguish between pregnant and open cows was very good (AUC of both tests above 0.9). The OFPT and RVPT almost perfectly agreed with each other. According to McNemar's analysis, false positive results have been caused difference between the two pregnancy tests and USG. In conclusion, both the RVPT and OFPT proved to be reliable and practical methods for pregnancy diagnosis 28-31 days after AI in dairy cows. However, the results of both pregnancy tests were affected by the occurrence of embryonic mortality around the time of their employment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehmet Akköse
- Department of Livestock, Dalaman Agricultural Enterprise, General Directorate of Agricultural Enterprises, Dalaman, Muğla, 48770, Türkiye.
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8
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Yuksel M, Luo W, McCloy B, Mills J, Kayaharman M, Yeow JTW. A precise and rapid early pregnancy test: Development of a novel and fully automated electrochemical point-of-care biosensor for human urine samples. Talanta 2023; 254:124156. [PMID: 36525867 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2022.124156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a glycoprotein hormone secreted from the placenta, is an important biomarker for pregnancy. In this study, we designed a precise, rapid and fully automatic device with an electrochemical point-of-care biosensor capable of quantitative hCG detection from human urine samples for early pregnancy detection. Gold and Ag/AgCl electrodes, whose structure with optimum isopotential region and current density, were simulated using COMSOL Multiphysics® software and custom-made from Flex Medical. The sensing surface was fabricated with DSP self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) and covalently immobilized anti-hCG-beta antibody. The detection method involved a sandwich assay using anti-hCG alpha-HRP. Based on an automated agitation design implemented in our device, the surface reaction rate is significantly improved comparing to routinely performed sandwich assays, and therefore a rapid detection of very low concentration can be achieved. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and chronoamperometry (CA) measurements were used to characterize the immobilization of the antibodies and to determine the sensor activities respectively. The sensors displayed a limit of detection (LOD) of 2.17 mIU/ml within established clinical hCG levels for early detection of pregnancy. They responded very well to hCG, but not to luteinizing hormone (LH), which has a high degree of cross-reactivity with hCG. The results showed that the immunosensor has high specificity, good reproducibility, and long-term stability for the detection of hCG in urine samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mustafa Yuksel
- Dept. of Systems Design Engineering, University of Waterloo, ON, Canada; SannTek Labs Inc, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Wei Luo
- SannTek Labs Inc, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | | | | | - Muhammed Kayaharman
- SannTek Labs Inc, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada; Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - John T W Yeow
- Dept. of Systems Design Engineering, University of Waterloo, ON, Canada; Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, ON, Canada.
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9
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Albaaj A, Durocher J, LeBlanc S, Dufour S. Meta-analysis of the incidence of pregnancy losses in dairy cows at different stages to 90 days of gestation. JDS COMMUNICATIONS 2022; 4:144-148. [PMID: 36974208 PMCID: PMC10039243 DOI: 10.3168/jdsc.2022-0278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Pregnancy losses are a biological challenge and economically important in dairy herds. A meta-analysis was conducted to quantify losses in 4 periods from 19 to 90 d of pregnancy corresponding to the physiological development of gestation in dairy cows. A total of 19,723 diagnostic records from 46 studies were included. Pregnancy losses averaged 27%, 13%, 7%, and 2% in the early embryonic (19 to 32 d), late embryonic (30 to 45 d), early fetal (45 to 60 d), and later fetal (60 to 90 d) stages. These results provide a formal synthesis of the incidence of pregnancy losses in dairy cows.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Albaaj
- Département de pathologie et microbiologie, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, C. P. 5000, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada, J2S 7C6
- Corresponding author
| | - J. Durocher
- Lactanet, 555, boul. Des Anciens-Combattants, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Québec, Canada, H9X 3R4
| | - S.J. LeBlanc
- Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada, N1G 2W1
| | - S. Dufour
- Département de pathologie et microbiologie, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, C. P. 5000, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, Canada, J2S 7C6
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10
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Kilany AA, El-Darawany AHA, El-Tarabany AA, Al-Marakby KM. Effect of Folic Acid Supplements on Progesterone Profile and Blood Metabolites of Heat-Stressed Holstein Cows during the Early Stage of Pregnancy. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12151872. [PMID: 35892522 PMCID: PMC9331989 DOI: 10.3390/ani12151872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Revised: 05/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim was to elucidate the impact of oral folic acid (FA) supplements on progesterone profile, blood metabolites and biochemical indices of heat-stressed Holstein cows during the early stage of pregnancy. The study lasted from the day of artificial insemination through the end of the fourth week of pregnancy. The first group (CON, n = 17) received 0 μg of FA/kg BW as a control. The second and third groups received oral FA doses of 5 (FA5, n = 19) and 10 (FA10, n = 20) μg kg−1 BW, respectively. At the 2nd and 3rd weeks of pregnancy, the FA10 group had greater progesterone levels than the CON group (p < 0.05). The FA10 group had a greater progesterone level than the FA5 and CON groups at the fourth week of pregnancy (p < 0.01). The FA10 group had higher folate levels than CON group during the first three weeks of pregnancy (p < 0.01). Both FA-supplemented groups had significantly greater serum folates than the CON group by the end of the fourth week of pregnancy (p < 0.01). At the 2nd and 4th weeks of pregnancy, the FA10 group had greater levels of serum glucose and globulin than the CON group (p = 0.028 and 0.049, respectively). Both FA-supplemented groups had greater serum growth hormone (GH) levels at the 4th week of pregnancy (p = 0.020). Additionally, the FA10 group showed significantly higher levels of IGF-1 at the 2nd and 4th week of gestation (p = 0.040 and 0.001, respectively). FA supplementation decreased the levels of non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) at the 2nd and 4th week of gestation (p = 0.020 and 0.035, respectively). Additionally, the FA10 group showed significantly higher pregnancy-associated glycoprotein (PAG) levels at the 2nd and 4th week of gestation (p = 0.005 and 0.001, respectively). In conclusion, oral FA supplementation (10 mcg kg−1) in the first month of gestation improved the progesterone profile, as well as blood folates, PAG, GH, and IGF-1 concentrations in heat-stressed Holstein cows. These findings could be useful in developing practical strategies to keep dairy cows’ regular reproductive patterns under heat stress conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdelrahman A. Kilany
- Radioisotopes Applications Division, Department of Biological Applications, NRC, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, Inshas, Cairo P.O. Box 13759, Egypt;
| | - Abdel-Halim A. El-Darawany
- Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Zagazig P.O. Box 44511, Egypt; (A.-H.A.E.-D.); (K.M.A.-M.)
| | - Akram A. El-Tarabany
- Radioisotopes Applications Division, Department of Biological Applications, NRC, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, Inshas, Cairo P.O. Box 13759, Egypt;
- Correspondence:
| | - Khaled M. Al-Marakby
- Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagazig University, Zagazig P.O. Box 44511, Egypt; (A.-H.A.E.-D.); (K.M.A.-M.)
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11
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Gnemmi GM, Maraboli CVA, Gnemmi B, Saleri R, De Rensis F. Use and adequacy of non-pregnancy diagnosis in cow. Which future? Reprod Domest Anim 2022; 57 Suppl 5:45-52. [PMID: 35837764 DOI: 10.1111/rda.14206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2022] [Revised: 06/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
In cattle, early detection of gestation is very important from an economic and management point of view in all types of farming. However, due to the poor efficiency of oestrus detection, it is essential to determine non-pregnant cows as early possible, in order to minimize the inter-insemination interval, thus de facto, reducing herd open days. Direct and indirect gestation diagnostic methods have been developed with the aim of improving the reproductive performance of the herd. Today, the most accurate method for making an early diagnosis of gestation from 28-30 days post insemination is B-Mode ultrasound. In recent years, indirect methods have included techniques that allow non-pregnant cows to be identified with a minimum margin of error, the most widely utilized of which is the Color-Doppler. This technique is rapidly becoming established for the diagnosis of non-pregnancy that allows the identification of non-pregnant animals earlier compared the pregnancy diagnosis. Some limitations of this technique in dairy cow have been presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Maria Gnemmi
- Bovinevet Internacional SL. Bovine Reproduction Ultrasonography & Herd Management Huesca (ES).,Bovine Internal Medicine and Surgery Department. Veterinary Faculty, Catholic University Valencia
| | | | - Benedetta Gnemmi
- Bovinevet Internacional SL. Bovine Reproduction Ultrasonography & Herd Management Huesca (ES)
| | - Roberta Saleri
- Department of Veterinary Medical Science University of Parma, Italy
| | - Fabio De Rensis
- Department of Veterinary Medical Science University of Parma, Italy
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12
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Durocher J, Moore RK, Castonguay MH, Albaaj A, LeBlanc SJ, Dufour S. Bayesian estimation of sensitivity and specificity of a milk pregnancy-associated glycoprotein ELISA test for pregnancy diagnosis between 23 and 27 days after insemination in Holstein dairy cows. J Dairy Sci 2022; 105:6985-6996. [PMID: 35787323 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2022-21905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Pregnancy diagnosis using pregnancy-associated glycoprotein (PAG) ELISA technology in blood or milk samples is validated from 28 d after insemination in dairy cows. The objective of this study was to estimate the sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) of a commercial milk PAG-based ELISA in Holstein dairy cows between 23 and 27 d after insemination. Milk samples (n = 268) from 257 Holstein dairy cows 23 to 27 d after AI were submitted for PAG ELISA testing. Pregnancy status was confirmed by either a second milk PAG ELISA test conducted between 28 and 50 d after insemination (n = 200) or transrectal ultrasonography performed between 28 and 59 d after insemination (n = 68). A Bayesian latent class model was used to compare the paired results from the test at 23 to 27 d after AI test to the reference test. The latent class model typically used for comparing 2 or more imperfect tests was extended to include the possibility of pregnancy loss between the 23 to 27 d test and the reference test. Informative priors for the probability of pregnancy loss, and for the Se and Sp of the PAG and ultrasonography reference tests were obtained from the scientific literature. Estimated median Se and Sp of the PAG ELISA test conducted between 23 and 27 d after AI were 0.98 (95% credible interval 0.93 to 1.0) and 0.98 (0.89 to 1.0), respectively, when using a standardized corrected optical density threshold of 0.15. Although the accuracy of the test under investigation was excellent, more data will be needed to confirm the optimal diagnostic cut point for PAG in milk for early pregnancy diagnosis in this time window. The optimal timing of pregnancy diagnosis will depend on herd-specific logistics and the action to be taken to re-inseminate nonpregnant cows.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Durocher
- Lactanet, 555, boul. des Anciens-Combattants, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Québec, H9X 3R4, Canada
| | - R K Moore
- Lactanet, 555, boul. des Anciens-Combattants, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Québec, H9X 3R4, Canada
| | - M-H Castonguay
- Lactanet, 555, boul. des Anciens-Combattants, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Québec, H9X 3R4, Canada
| | - A Albaaj
- Département de pathologie et microbiologie, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, C. P. 5000, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, J2S 7C6, Canada
| | - S J LeBlanc
- Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada, N1G 2W1
| | - S Dufour
- Département de pathologie et microbiologie, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, C. P. 5000, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC, J2S 7C6, Canada.
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13
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Yuan H, Liu C, Wang H, Wang L, Dai L. PLS-DA and Vis-NIR spectroscopy based discrimination of abdominal tissues of female rabbits. SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA. PART A, MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY 2022; 271:120887. [PMID: 35063825 DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2022.120887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Using Vis-NIR spectroscopy to distinguish gestational sac from other abdominal tissues is the key to diagnosing female rabbits' pregnancy by optical means. This study aims to demonstrate the gestational sac and other abdominal tissues (hair, skin, breast, muscle, cecum, small intestine) of rabbits can be identified using Vis-NIR spectroscopy in vitro. These tissues' raw NIR spectra were recorded in the Vis-NIR range (490-940 nm) with interactive mode. The raw spectra of tissues were analyzed by the principal component analysis (PCA), and were pre-processed using five spectral pre-processing techniques (moving average filter (MF), De-trending (DT), first-order derivative (D1), Multivariate scattering correction (MSC), and standard normal variate (SNV)) to reduce signal noises. The raw and pre-processed spectra were classified using partial least squares discrimination analysis (PLS-DA). Two-way and multi-way PLS-DA model was conducted to understand the classification of each tissue from the gestational sac and to understand the classification of all tissues from the gestational sac, respectively. SNV-PLS-DA model had the best performance, and its multi-way accuracy (Ac), determination coefficients (R2), and Q2 were 0.89, 0.91, 0.77, respectively. The successive projection algorithm (SPA) and competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS) were used to select characteristic wavelengths (CWs). The SNV-SPA-PLS-DA model with eighteen CWs was better than the SNV-CARS-PLS-DA model. The results showed that Vis-NIR spectroscopy technology combined with PLS-DA could discriminate the gestational sac from the abdominal tissues. This study may help develop an optical diagnosis system for pregnant rabbits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Yuan
- College of Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Cailing Liu
- College of Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100085, China.
| | - Hongying Wang
- College of Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Liangju Wang
- College of Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Lei Dai
- College of Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100085, China
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14
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Tiplady KM, Trinh MH, Davis SR, Sherlock RG, Spelman RJ, Garrick DJ, Harris BL. Pregnancy status predicted using milk mid-infrared spectra from dairy cattle. J Dairy Sci 2022; 105:3615-3632. [PMID: 35181140 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2021-21516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Accurate and timely pregnancy diagnosis is an important component of effective herd management in dairy cattle. Predicting pregnancy from Fourier-transform mid-infrared (FT-MIR) spectroscopy data is of particular interest because the data are often already available from routine milk testing. The purpose of this study was to evaluate how well pregnancy status could be predicted in a large data set of 1,161,436 FT-MIR milk spectra records from 863,982 mixed-breed pasture-based New Zealand dairy cattle managed within seasonal calving systems. Three strategies were assessed for defining the nonpregnant cows when partitioning the records according to pregnancy status in the training population. Two of these used records for cows with a subsequent calving only, whereas the third also included records for cows without a subsequent calving. For each partitioning strategy, partial least squares discriminant analysis models were developed, whereby spectra from all the cows in 80% of herds were used to train the models, and predictions on cows in the remaining herds were used for validation. A separate data set was also used as a secondary validation, whereby pregnancy diagnosis had been assigned according to the presence of pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAG) in the milk samples. We examined different ways of accounting for stage of lactation in the prediction models, either by including it as an effect in the prediction model, or by pre-adjusting spectra before fitting the model. For a subset of strategies, we also assessed prediction accuracies from deep learning approaches, utilizing either the raw spectra or images of spectra. Across all strategies, prediction accuracies were highest for models using the unadjusted spectra as model predictors. Strategies for cows with a subsequent calving performed well in herd-independent validation with sensitivities above 0.79, specificities above 0.91 and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) values over 0.91. However, for these strategies, the specificity to predict nonpregnant cows in the external PAG data set was poor (0.002-0.04). The best performing models were those that included records for cows without a subsequent calving, and used unadjusted spectra and days in milk as predictors, with consistent results observed across the training, herd-independent validation and PAG data sets. For the partial least squares discriminant analysis model, sensitivity was 0.71, specificity was 0.54 and AUC values were 0.68 in the PAG data set; and for an image-based deep learning model, the sensitivity was 0.74, specificity was 0.52 and the AUC value was 0.69. Our results demonstrate that in pasture-based seasonal calving herds, confounding between pregnancy status and spectral changes associated with stage of lactation can inflate prediction accuracies. When the effect of this confounding was reduced, prediction accuracies were not sufficiently high enough to use as a sole indicator of pregnancy status.
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Affiliation(s)
- K M Tiplady
- Research and Development, Livestock Improvement Corporation, Private Bag 3016, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand; School of Agriculture, Massey University, Ruakura, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand.
| | - M-H Trinh
- Research and Development, Livestock Improvement Corporation, Private Bag 3016, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand
| | - S R Davis
- Research and Development, Livestock Improvement Corporation, Private Bag 3016, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand
| | - R G Sherlock
- Research and Development, Livestock Improvement Corporation, Private Bag 3016, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand
| | - R J Spelman
- Research and Development, Livestock Improvement Corporation, Private Bag 3016, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand
| | - D J Garrick
- School of Agriculture, Massey University, Ruakura, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand
| | - B L Harris
- Research and Development, Livestock Improvement Corporation, Private Bag 3016, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand
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15
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Yuan H, Liu C, Wang H, Wang L, Dai L. Early pregnancy diagnosis of rabbits: A non-invasive approach using Vis-NIR spatially resolved spectroscopy. SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA. PART A, MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY 2022; 264:120251. [PMID: 34455387 DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2021.120251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2021] [Revised: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Pregnancy diagnosis is essential for rabbit's reproductive management. The early identification of non-pregnant rabbits allows for earlier re-insemination, increases the service rate, and reduces the laboring interval in commercial operations. The objective of this study was to establish the feasibility of using a Vis-NIR spatially resolved spectroscopy for diagnosing pregnancy in female rabbits. A total of 141 female rabbits, including 67 pregnant female rabbits (PRs) and 74 non-pregnant female rabbits (NPRs), were measured spectrally between 350 and 1000 nm with different source-detector distances (SDD). Different preprocessing methods were used to transform and enhance the spectral signal. A partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) classification model of the original and preprocessed spectra was established. The highest accuracy of the calibration set and prediction set was 91.75% and 86.05%, respectively. Competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS) and successive projection algorithm (SPA) were used to select characteristic wavelengths from the variables of VIP > 1 (Variable importance in projection),and four classification models were established based on selected wavelengths, including PLS-DA, support vector machine (SVM), K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN) and Naïve Bayes. SPA-SVM was the optimal classification model, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the validation set and prediction set were 93.18%, 94.44%, 93.88%, 86.96%, 90.00%, 90.69% respectively. The results showed that Vis-NIR spatially resolved spectroscopy combined with classification models could discriminate the PRs and NPRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Yuan
- College of Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Cailing Liu
- College of Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100085, China.
| | - Hongying Wang
- College of Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Liangju Wang
- College of Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Lei Dai
- College of Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100085, China
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16
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Frisée V, Rigaux G, Dufour P, Barbato O, Brutinel F, Egyptien S, Bossaert P, Deleuze S, Cavalier E, Ponthier J. American Bison (Bison bison) reproductive endocrinology: serum Pregnancy Associated Glycoproteins (PAG), Progesterone, Estrone and Estrone-Sulfate in non pregnant animals and during gestation. Domest Anim Endocrinol 2022; 78:106684. [PMID: 34634728 DOI: 10.1016/j.domaniend.2021.106684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
This study describes concentrations of Pregnancy Associated Glycoproteins (PAG), progesterone (P4), estrone (E1) and estrone-sulfate (E1S) in American Bison sera. In 2 ranches, mature American Bison were sampled once a year for 2 yr. Subsequent American Bison cows calving days were reported. PAG concentration was determined by Radio-Immuno Assay, whereas P4, E1 and E1S were assayed using Liquid Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry. Concentrations were compared between American Bison bulls (B, n = 7), Nonpregnant cows (NP, n = 32), first (1TP, n = 3), second (2TP, n = 26) and third (3TP, n = 15) trimester of pregnancy. Seven American Bison bulls and 92 cows were sampled, 51 calved during these 2 yr. Calving occurred mostly in spring (74.5%), but also in summer (13.7%) and fall (11.8%). PAG and P4 were higher in 2TP and 3TP than B and NP (P< 0.0001). P4 was non-basal in B and NP. E1 and E1S were correlated (P< 0.0001; r = 0.76) and increased in 2TP and 3TP when compared with B and NP (P< 0.01). Moreover, E1S was higher in 3TP than in 2TP (P< 0.0001) and correlated to pregnancy day (P< 0.0001; r = 0.60). Breeding American Bison in Belgium induces a calving seasonality loss. P4 slowly increases in 1TP and remains steady and high in 2 and 3TP. P4 non-basal and variable concentrations in B or NP disable its use as gestation marker. American Bison produce PAG in the 2 and 3TP, but Estrone-sulfate assay seems to be the best pregnancy marker during the 2 last trimesters as it could help to estimate the gestation period.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Frisée
- Production animals Department, Liège University, Liège, Belgium
| | | | - P Dufour
- Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital (CHU), Liège University, Liège, Belgium
| | - O Barbato
- Veterinary Medicine Department, Perugia University, Perugia, Italy
| | - F Brutinel
- Theriogenology, Liège University, Liège, Belgium
| | - S Egyptien
- Theriogenology, Liège University, Liège, Belgium
| | - P Bossaert
- Production animals Department, Liège University, Liège, Belgium
| | - S Deleuze
- Theriogenology, Liège University, Liège, Belgium
| | - E Cavalier
- Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital (CHU), Liège University, Liège, Belgium
| | - J Ponthier
- Theriogenology, Liège University, Liège, Belgium.
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17
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Melo GD, Pinto LMF, Rocha CC, Motta IG, Silva LA, da Silveira JC, Gonella-Diaza AM, Binelli M, Pugliesi G. Type I interferon receptors and interferon-τ-stimulated genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and polymorphonuclear leucocytes during early pregnancy in beef heifers. Reprod Fertil Dev 2021; 32:953-966. [PMID: 32646539 DOI: 10.1071/rd19430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 02/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
This study characterised the expression of interferon (IFN)-τ-stimulated genes (ISGs) and Type I IFN receptors in circulating polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) of beef heifers and compared it with expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) up to Day 20 of gestation. Nelore heifers (n=26) were subjected to fixed-time AI (FTAI) on Day 0. PMNs and PBMCs were isolated on Days 0, 10, 14, 16, 18 and 20 after FTAI. The abundance of target transcripts (ubiquitin-like protein (ISG15), 2'-5'-oligoadenylate synthetase 1 (OAS1), myxovirus resistance 1 (MX1), myxovirus resistance 2 (MX2), IFN receptor I (IFNAR1) and IFN receptor 2 (IFNAR2)) was determined using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and compared between pregnant (n=8) and non-pregnant (n=9) females. In both PBMCs and PMNs, ISG15 and OAS1 expression was greater in pregnant than non-pregnant heifers on Days 18 and 20. There were no significant differences in the expression of ISGs between PBMCs and PMNs. A time effect on expression was found for IFNAR1 in PBMCs and IFNAR2 in PMNs, with decreased expression of both genes on Days 18 and 20. When the expression of these genes was compared between cell types only in pregnant heifers, IFNAR2 expression in PMNs had an earlier decrease when compared to its expression in PBMCs, starting from Day 18. In conclusion, PMNs do not respond earlier to the conceptus stimulus, and ISG15 and OAS1 expression in both PMNs and PBMCs can be used as a suitable marker for pregnancy diagnosis on Days 18 and 20. In addition, gestational status did not affect IFNAR1 and IFNAR2 expression, but IFNAR2 showed a distinct response between PMNs and PBMCs of pregnant heifers.
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Affiliation(s)
- G D Melo
- Department of Animal Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Avenida Duque de Caxias Norte, 225, Campus Fernando Costa, University of São Paulo, 13635-900, Pirassununga, SP, Brazil
| | - L M F Pinto
- Department of Animal Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Avenida Duque de Caxias Norte, 225, Campus Fernando Costa, University of São Paulo, 13635-900, Pirassununga, SP, Brazil
| | - C C Rocha
- Department of Animal Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Avenida Duque de Caxias Norte, 225, Campus Fernando Costa, University of São Paulo, 13635-900, Pirassununga, SP, Brazil
| | - I G Motta
- Department of Animal Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Avenida Duque de Caxias Norte, 225, Campus Fernando Costa, University of São Paulo, 13635-900, Pirassununga, SP, Brazil
| | - L A Silva
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Animal Science and Food Engineering, Avenida Duque de Caxias Norte, 225, Campus Fernando Costa, University of São Paulo, 13635-900, Pirassununga, SP, Brazil
| | - J C da Silveira
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, School of Animal Science and Food Engineering, Avenida Duque de Caxias Norte, 225, Campus Fernando Costa, University of São Paulo, 13635-900, Pirassununga, SP, Brazil
| | - A M Gonella-Diaza
- North Florida Research and Education Center, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Marianna, 4932 Highway 162, Marianna, FL 32446, USA
| | - M Binelli
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, 2250 Shealy Drive, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA
| | - G Pugliesi
- Department of Animal Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Avenida Duque de Caxias Norte, 225, Campus Fernando Costa, University of São Paulo, 13635-900, Pirassununga, SP, Brazil; and Corresponding author.
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Szenci O. Recent Possibilities for the Diagnosis of Early Pregnancy and Embryonic Mortality in Dairy Cows. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11061666. [PMID: 34204926 PMCID: PMC8229416 DOI: 10.3390/ani11061666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Pregnancy diagnosis plays an essential role in decreasing days open in dairy farms; therefore, it is very important to select an accurate method for diagnosing early pregnancy. Besides traditional pregnancy diagnoses made by rectal palpation of the uterus from 40 to 60 days after AI and measuring the serum or milk progesterone concentration between 18 to 24 days after AI, there are several new possibilities to diagnose early pregnancy in dairy farms. However, it is very important to emphasize that before introducing any new diagnostic test, we need to make sure the accuracy of that particular test to be able to decrease the rate of iatrogenic pregnancy losses caused by prostaglandin or resynchronization treatments. This review focuses on the diagnostic possibilities and limitations of early pregnancy diagnosis in the field. Abstract One of the most recent techniques for the on-farm diagnosis of early pregnancy (EP) in cattle is B-mode ultrasonography. Under field conditions, acceptable results may be achieved with ultrasonography from Days 25 to 30 post-AI. The reliability of the test greatly depends on the frequency of the transducer used, the skill of the examiner, the criterion used for a positive pregnancy diagnosis (PD), and the position of the uterus in the pelvic inlet. Non-pregnant animals can be selected accurately by evaluating blood flow in the corpus luteum around Day 20 after AI, meaning we can substantially improve the reproductive efficiency of our herd. Pregnancy protein assays (PSPB, PAG-1, and PSP60 RIA, commercial ELISA or rapid visual ELISA tests) may provide an alternative method to ultrasonography for determining early pregnancy or late embryonic/early fetal mortality (LEM/EFM) in dairy cows. Although the early pregnancy factor is the earliest specific indicator of fertilization, at present, its detection is entirely dependent on the use of the rosette inhibition test; therefore, its use in the field needs further developments. Recently found biomarkers like interferon-tau stimulated genes or microRNAs may help us diagnose early pregnancy in dairy cows; however, these tests need further developments before their general use in the farms becomes possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ottó Szenci
- Department of Obstetrics and Food Animal Medicine Clinic, University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, H-2225 Üllő-Dóra Major, Hungary
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19
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Krebs T, Kilic I, Mütze K, Kleinhans S, Lücking D, Hennies M, Tetens J. Establishment of a Sandwich-ELISA for simultaneous quantification of bovine pregnancy-associated glycoprotein in serum and milk. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0251414. [PMID: 33979386 PMCID: PMC8115853 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0251414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Bovine pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (boPAG) are expressed by trophoblast cells in the bovine placenta. The multigene family of boPAG belongs to the group of aspartic proteases. The accumulation and circulation in maternal blood and milk has made boPAG very useful and important for pregnancy diagnosis in cattle. The goal of the present study was to develop and validate a new Sandwich-ELISA which allows the detection of boPAG in maternal serum and whole milk. Therefore, 984 serum and 928 milk samples were collected monthly from 231 Holstein Friesian cows (Bos Taurus) from one week after insemination (p.i.) until six weeks postpartum. The ELISA is able to identify a cow as being pregnant at day 30 p.i. in serum and at day 40 p.i in milk with threshold values of 1.0 ng/ml in serum and 0.0165 ng/ml in milk. The postpartum half-life of boPAG was estimated to be 6.4 days in serum and 7.1 days in milk. The boPAG profile established during pregnancy in serum and milk showed a typical pattern. The amount of boPAG found in milk was 1.5 % of the amount of boPAG present in serum. In conclusion, a Sandwich-ELISA has been developed to quantify boPAG in serum and in whole milk simultaneously with the same test procedure. This is time saving for farmers and more efficient for laboratories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tony Krebs
- Department of Animal Sciences, Georg-August-University, Goettingen, Lower Saxony, Germany
- * E-mail:
| | - Isabel Kilic
- Department of Animal Sciences, Georg-August-University, Goettingen, Lower Saxony, Germany
| | - Katja Mütze
- Hessischer Verband für Leistungs- und Qualitätsprüfungen in der Tierzucht e.V., Alsfeld, Hesse, Germany
| | - Sonja Kleinhans
- Hessischer Verband für Leistungs- und Qualitätsprüfungen in der Tierzucht e.V., Alsfeld, Hesse, Germany
| | - Daniel Lücking
- TECOdevelopment GmbH, Rheinbach, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
| | - Mark Hennies
- TECOdevelopment GmbH, Rheinbach, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
| | - Jens Tetens
- Department of Animal Sciences, Georg-August-University, Goettingen, Lower Saxony, Germany
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20
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Stevenson JS, Sauls-Hiesterman JA. Resynchronizing the first eligible estrus in dairy cattle after a prior insemination and fertility of the prior insemination after gonadotropin-releasing hormone and progesterone treatments. Theriogenology 2021; 170:54-66. [PMID: 33991811 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2021.04.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The hypothesis of this study tested whether application of designed treatments to synchronize estrus in nonpregnant previously inseminated lactating dairy cows increased the proportion of nonpregnant cows in estrus before early pregnancy diagnosis on Day 32 after the previous insemination (Day 0) and increase fertility of the pretreatment insemination. A progesterone insert (CIDR) and GnRH were applied to cows after insemination to resynchronize the returning estrus of cows that failed to conceive on Day 0. The combination of GnRH (Day 14) and a CIDR insert (d 17 through 24) in experiment 1 (n = 347 cows) did not increase (P = 0.13) the proportion of nonpregnant cows returning to estrus before pregnancy diagnosis, but increased (P < 0.01) the synchrony of their return by 24.4% points, and delayed (P < 0.01) that return by 2.3 ± 0.3 d compared with controls. Ovulation risk after GnRH treatment on Day 14 was only 10%. For cows that failed to return to estrus before Day 32, progesterone concentration on Days 14 and 17 were less than that in cows that returned to estrus by Day 32 and in pregnant cows. Cows that returned to estrus had larger follicles and fewer numbers of CL on Day 21 than pregnant cows and cows that failed to return to estrus, but concentrations of pregnancy-associated glycoproteins on Day 28 indicated that cows failing to return to estrus were likely pregnant but suffered embryo death. In experiment 2 (n = 881), use of GnRH alone (Day 7), a CIDR insert alone (Days 14 through 21), or in combination, failed to increase the proportion of nonpregnant cows in estrus before pregnancy diagnosis on Day 32 compared with controls. Cows receiving the CIDR insert had increased (P < 0.01) synchrony of estrus by 24-34% points compared with cows that did not receive a CIDR insert. More cows receiving GnRH had 2 or more CL on Days 14 and 21 compared with controls. Ovulation risk after GnRH on Day 7 was greater than 66%. In both experiments combined, treatments with GnRH or GnRH + CIDR insert increased (P = 0.015) pretreatment pregnancy per AI by 7.1% points, but did not affect pregnancy loss. Although administering GnRH with or without a CIDR insert synchronized returns to estrus, treatments failed to increase the proportion of nonpregnant cows reinseminated before pregnancy diagnosis, but increased pretreatment pregnancy risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- J S Stevenson
- Department of Animal Sciences and Industry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, 66506-0201, United States.
| | - J A Sauls-Hiesterman
- Department of Animal Sciences and Industry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, 66506-0201, United States
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21
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Szelényi Z, Szenci O, Kovács L, Garcia-Ispierto I. Practical Aspects of Twin Pregnancy Diagnosis in Cattle. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11041061. [PMID: 33918044 PMCID: PMC8069115 DOI: 10.3390/ani11041061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 04/03/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary This review summarizes the clinical background, possibilities, and limitations of twin pregnancy diagnosis in cattle, with a special emphasis on pregnancy loss aspects. Due to the fact that reproductive performance is strongly affected by twin pregnancy, clinical veterinarians should become familiar with the correct diagnosis of this phenomenon. Thus, each herd must plan a herd-specific management practice to detect twin pregnancies. A highly accurate diagnostic tool is required to detect such pregnancies, already during the first month of gestation. This commentary review focuses on the diagnostic possibilities and limitations on the field. Abstract Twin pregnancies are an economically unwanted phenomenon in dairy cattle, not only because they increase pregnancy losses, but also because antibiotics usage and culling rate of the dam are also dramatically increased due to them, furthermore animal welfare issues are also affected through them. In cattle, under field conditions using an early pregnancy determination tool, the first accurate diagnosis from the pregnancy status is available from around day 28, although further confirmations of pregnancy are required. Twin pregnancy diagnosis is available either by rectal palpation or ultrasonography. The measurement of pregnancy specific proteins are also available to determine gestation, but there is still a long way to go to properly identify twin pregnancies. In this commentary, we compared our own results with the literature data in this field with a special emphasis on the clinical practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoltán Szelényi
- Department of Obstetrics and Food Animal Medicine Clinic, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1078 Budapest, Hungary;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +36-30-296-7012
| | - Ottó Szenci
- Department of Obstetrics and Food Animal Medicine Clinic, University of Veterinary Medicine, 1078 Budapest, Hungary;
| | - Levente Kovács
- Institute of Animal Sciences, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, 7400 Kaposvár, Hungary;
| | - Irina Garcia-Ispierto
- Agrotecnio Center, Animal Science Department ETSEA, University of Lleida, 25198 Lleida, Spain;
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22
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Peixoto PM, Hubner AM, Junior WMC, Cunha LL, Garrett EF, Pohler KG, Dias NW, Mercadante VRG, Canisso IF, Lima FS. Characterization of pregnancy-associated glycoproteins and progesterone as a predictor of twins and conceptus loss in high-risk-pregnancy Holstein cows. J Dairy Sci 2021; 104:5034-5046. [PMID: 33612217 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2020-19334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to characterize plasma concentrations of pregnancy-associated glycoprotein (PAG) and progesterone (P4) as predictors of twins and pregnancy loss in Holstein cows with high-risk pregnancies. High-risk pregnancy was characterized using transrectal ultrasonography 37 d after artificial insemination (AI) based on the following criteria: small embryo size <15 mm, n = 10), slow heartbeat (<60 beats per minute, n = 11), and extra-amniotic membrane (additional amniotic membrane, n = 3). A cohort of twins (n = 41) diagnosed at d 37 post-AI was also enrolled. Each high-risk and twin pregnancy cow was paired with a cow of the same parity carrying a normal singleton at d 37 post-AI (control, n = 65). Blood samples were collected to measure PAG and P4 at d 37, 44, and 51 post-AI. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA, logistic regression, and receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve with JMP software (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC). Pregnancy loss at d 51 post-AI was greater in high-risk pregnancies than in controls and twins (control = 1.5%; high-risk = 87.5%; twins = 12.2%). Concentration of PAG at d 37 post-AI did not differ among groups (control = 5.3 ± 0.7; high-risk = 4.8 ± 1.2; twins = 4.0 ± 0.9 ng/mL). Concentration of P4 at d 37 post-AI was greater in twins than in high-risk pregnancies and control, and lesser in high-risk pregnancies than in controls (control = 7.0 ± 0.3; high-risk = 5.9 ± 0.4; twins = 8.4 ± 0.3 ng/mL). Regression and ROC analysis for PAG at d 37 post-AI did not find a threshold to predict pregnancy loss or twins. Regression and ROC analysis for P4 at d 37 post-AI found that a threshold of 6.5 ng/mL predicted pregnancy loss with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.64, and a threshold of 7.2 ng/mL predicted twins with AUC of 0.71. In summary, pregnancy loss and twins were predicted with only moderate accuracy by P4 concentration at d 37 post-AI, and the variability in PAG concentrations at d 37 post-AI was not sufficient to generate a threshold to predict pregnancy loss and twins in Holstein lactating cows.
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Affiliation(s)
- P M Peixoto
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana 61802
| | - A M Hubner
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana 61802; Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois, Urbana 61802
| | - W M C Junior
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana 61802
| | - L L Cunha
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana 61802
| | - E F Garrett
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana 61802
| | - K G Pohler
- Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station 77843
| | - N W Dias
- Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Tech University, Blacksburg 24061
| | - V R G Mercadante
- Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Tech University, Blacksburg 24061
| | - I F Canisso
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana 61802; Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois, Urbana 61802
| | - F S Lima
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana 61802; Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois, Urbana 61802; Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis 95616.
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23
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Reese ST, Franco GA, Schubach KM, Brandao AP, West SM, Cooke RF, Cardoso RC, Williams GL, Pohler KG. Induced prostaglandin release alters steroid concentrations but not pregnancy survival in cows. Domest Anim Endocrinol 2021; 74:106514. [PMID: 32693342 DOI: 10.1016/j.domaniend.2020.106514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2020] [Revised: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Embryonic mortality (EM) is a major factor limiting reproductive efficiency in cattle, and despite negative connotations related to reproductive performance, prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) is capable of being released by the uterus by Day 30 of gestation. Therefore, the objective was to evaluate differences in PGF2α release after an oxytocin challenge between cows with high circulating concentrations of pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAGs) vs low PAG because of the association of increased PAG concentrations with pregnancy success. At Day 30 of gestation, pregnant cows were divided into oxytocin treatment (OT; n = 13) and control (CON; n = 12) groups. Treatment cows were further subdivided by circulating PAG concentration (high PAG, n = 7; and low PAG, n = 6). Blood samples were collected every 30 min beginning 1 h before oxytocin administration and continuing for 4 h. Prostaglandin F2α metabolite (PGFM), progesterone, estradiol-17β (E2), and PAG concentrations were quantified. The peak concentration of PGFM occurred 2 h after oxytocin injection in treatment animals and returned to baseline levels by 4 h. No correlations were observed between PAG and PGFM, progesterone, or E2 concentrations (P > 0.05). There was no difference in initial or final PGFM concentrations between groups (P > 0.05). Progesterone and E2 concentrations decreased in cows after treatment of oxytocin (P < 0.05); however, only progesterone returned to basal concentrations by the end of the sampling period. In summary, cows with high vs low PAG concentrations at Day 30 of gestation have a similar PGFM response to oxytocin challenge.
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Affiliation(s)
- S T Reese
- Pregnancy and Developmental Programming Area of Excellence, Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - G A Franco
- Pregnancy and Developmental Programming Area of Excellence, Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - K M Schubach
- Pregnancy and Developmental Programming Area of Excellence, Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - A P Brandao
- Pregnancy and Developmental Programming Area of Excellence, Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - S M West
- Pregnancy and Developmental Programming Area of Excellence, Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - R F Cooke
- Pregnancy and Developmental Programming Area of Excellence, Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - R C Cardoso
- Pregnancy and Developmental Programming Area of Excellence, Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - G L Williams
- Pregnancy and Developmental Programming Area of Excellence, Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA; Animal Reproduction Laboratory, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Beeville, TX, USA
| | - K G Pohler
- Pregnancy and Developmental Programming Area of Excellence, Department of Animal Science, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA.
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Karakuş O, Kaçar C, Kuru M, Kaya S, Demir MC, Arı UÇ, Zonturlu AK, Öztürkler Y. Efficacy of a commercial test kit to determine early pregnancy in cows using whole blood and blood serum. Trop Anim Health Prod 2020; 53:28. [PMID: 33226491 DOI: 10.1007/s11250-020-02428-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2019] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of the Fassisi®BoviPreg visual test kit (Fassisi®BoviPreg) in determining early pregnancies in cows by measuring the pregnancy-associated glycoprotein (PAG) in whole blood and blood serum. The study was conducted on 50 cows, the artificial insemination (AI) dates of which were designated as day 0. Pregnancy diagnosis was performed with transrectal ultrasonography (USG), and serum samples were simultaneously collected and used with Fassisi®BoviPreg to determine pregnancies on 30 days after AI. The results of the Fassisi®BoviPreg test on serum and whole blood samples, respectively, on 30 days after AI were as follows: sensitivity, 61.54% and 50.0%; specificity, 79.17% and 75%; accuracy, 70.0% and 62.0%; positive predictive values, 76.2% and 68.4%; negative predictive values, 65.5% and 58.1%; false-positive diagnoses, 23.8% and 31.6%; and false-negative diagnoses, 34.5% and 41.9%. On day 50 after AI, sensitivities were 63.64% and 50.0%, specificities were 100.0% and 100.0%, and accuracies were 75.0% and 65.62% in serum and whole blood, respectively. Higher pregnancy rates were obtained using Fassisi®BoviPreg in cows with ≥ 5 ng/mL P4 (P < 0.001). In conclusion, the results from the Fassisi®BoviPreg tests on cows on 30 and 50 days after AI showed that the use of blood serum is more accurate and suitable than that of whole blood. The results also showed a higher confidence level in specificity 50 days after AI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ozan Karakuş
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafkas University, 36100, Kars, Turkey
| | - Cihan Kaçar
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafkas University, 36100, Kars, Turkey
| | - Mushap Kuru
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafkas University, 36100, Kars, Turkey.
| | - Semra Kaya
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafkas University, 36100, Kars, Turkey
| | - Murat Can Demir
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafkas University, 36100, Kars, Turkey
| | - Umut Çağın Arı
- Department of Reproduction and Artificial Insemination, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafkas University, 36100, Kars, Turkey
| | - Abuzer Kafar Zonturlu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Harran University, 63200, Şanlıurfa, Turkey
| | - Yavuz Öztürkler
- Department of Reproduction and Artificial Insemination, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kafkas University, 36100, Kars, Turkey
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25
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Madureira AML, Poole RK, Burnett TA, Guida TG, Edwards JL, Schrick FN, Vasconcelos JLM, Cerri RLA, Pohler KG. Size and position of the reproductive tract impacts fertility outcomes and pregnancy losses in lactating dairy cows. Theriogenology 2020; 158:66-74. [PMID: 32932186 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2020.08.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Revised: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
There are multiple factors that contribute to reduced fertility in lactating dairy cows. Recently, a reproductive tract size and position score (SPS) system was developed as a management tool to identify dairy cows with decreased fertility. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between the SPS on fertility outcomes such as ovulation failure, pregnancy per artificial insemination (P/AI), concentration of pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAGs), and pregnancy loss in lactating dairy cows. Primiparous and multiparous lactating Holstein cows (n = 869) were enrolled at two locations. Location 1 (Loc. 1) in Minas Gerais, Brazil (n = 613) and location 2 (Loc. 2) in Agassiz, British Columbia, Canada (n = 256). At the time of AI (d 0), cows were classified as SPS (small [SPS1], medium [SPS2], or large [SPS3] sized reproductive tract) and ovulation failure was determined at 48 h and 7 d post-AI via ultrasonography (Loc. 2 only). Blood samples were collected on d 24 and 31 of gestation for quantification of PAGs and pregnancy diagnosis was performed via ultrasonography at d 31 and 60 post-AI (Loc. 1) and at d 31 ± 3 and 60 ± 3 post-AI (Loc. 2). Cows diagnosed pregnant at d 31 post-AI but not pregnant at d 60 were defined to have undergone late embryonic pregnancy loss. Parity was found to impact SPS (P < 0.01), as primiparous cows had a higher frequency of SPS1 and lower frequency of SPS3 when compared with multiparous cows (SPS1: 42.6 vs. 15.0%; SPS3: 7.0 vs. 22.0%, respectively). Cows classified as SPS3 had greater ovulation failure at 48 h (P = 0.04) and 7 d post-AI (P = 0.05). Cows classified as SPS1 had greater P/AI when compared to SPS2 and SPS3 (45.9 ± 3.3 vs. 37.4 ± 2.6 and 29.1 ± 3.5%, respectively; P = 0.004). There was no interaction between parity and SPS on P/AI. Pregnancy loss between 31 and 60 d post-AI was increased in cows classified as SPS3 compared to SPS2 and SPS1 (24.3 ± 0.05 vs. 11.6 ± 0.02 and 9.4 ± 0.02%, respectively; P = 0.04). Cows classified as SPS1 and SPS2 had greater concentrations of PAGs at 31 d post-AI when compared to SPS3 at both Loc.1 (P < 0.01) and Loc. 2 (P < 0.01). There was no interaction between SPS and pregnancy loss on PAGs at 24 and 31 d post- AI for either Loc. 1 (P = 0.75 and P = 0.76, respectively) or Loc. 2 (P = 0.61 and P = 0.81, respectively). In conclusion, cows that were classified as SPS3 had greater ovulation failure, reduced P/AI, similar concentrations of PAG on d 24, but decreased on d 31, and a greater incidence of pregnancy loss. Thus, size and position of the reproductive tract is associated with fertility and this scoring system could be used to make reproductive management decisions on dairy operations.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M L Madureira
- Applied Animal Biology, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - R K Poole
- Department of Animal Science, Pregnancy and Developmental Programming Area of Excellence, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - T A Burnett
- Applied Animal Biology, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - T G Guida
- Department of Animal Production, São Paulo State University, Botucatu, 18168-000, Brazil
| | - J L Edwards
- Department of Animal Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA
| | - F N Schrick
- Department of Animal Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA
| | - J L M Vasconcelos
- Department of Animal Production, São Paulo State University, Botucatu, 18168-000, Brazil
| | - R L A Cerri
- Applied Animal Biology, Faculty of Land and Food Systems, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - K G Pohler
- Department of Animal Science, Pregnancy and Developmental Programming Area of Excellence, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA.
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Growth of the conceptus from days 33 to 45 of pregnancy is similar for heifers and lactating cows and not associated with circulating glucose, insulin, IGF1 or progesterone concentrations. Anim Reprod Sci 2020; 216:106463. [PMID: 32414466 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2020.106463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Revised: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Less than optimal circulating progesterone as well as glucose, insulin, and IGF1 concentrations in lactating cows may contribute to embryonic loss if placental development is dependent on concentrations of these hormones. There was comparison of fetal growth in lactating dairy cows with a contemporary group of nulliparous heifers (negative control for lactation). There was also assessment of the association between conceptus development and circulating hormone and metabolite concentrations and the response to an intravenous glucose administration. The embryo and amniotic vesicle were measured every 2-3 days during a 2-week period (days 33-45 of pregnancy). Blood samples were collected at the time of ultrasonography and analyzed for glucose, insulin, IGF1, and progesterone. There was also an intravenous glucose administration. Lactating cows had lesser blood concentrations of glucose, progesterone, and IGF1 during pregnancy. With respect to glucose administration, cows had lesser insulin and glucose than heifers at time 0 but heifers released three-fold more insulin than cows in response to glucose infusion. Cows had slightly larger fetuses when compared with heifers. When included in the model for embryo or amniotic vesicle length or area, concentrations of circulating glucose, insulin, IGF1, or progesterone did not explain a large amount of variation in values for these variables (P > 0.10). The conclusion was that cows differed from heifers for fetal growth but concentrations of circulating metabolites were not associated with size of the fetus. There was no evidence for an association between the hormonal or metabolic milieu and conceptus development.
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Applied use of interferon-tau stimulated genes expression in polymorphonuclear cells to detect pregnancy compared to other early predictors in beef cattle. Theriogenology 2020; 152:94-105. [PMID: 32387553 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2020.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2020] [Revised: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 04/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
We aimed to evaluate the accuracy of Interferon-tau stimulated genes (ISG) abundance in peripheral blood polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) on D20 after fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI; D0) as a pregnancy diagnosis method against CL evaluation by Doppler ultrasonography and progesterone (P4) concentrations on D20, as well as Pregnancy Associated Glycoproteins (PAG) concentrations on D25. Additionally, we evaluated the potential of ISG abundance in PMNs as pregnancy loss predictors. Nelore heifers (n = 103) and cows (n = 144) underwent estrous synchronization and were artificially inseminated on D0. Pregnancy was diagnosed by B-mode ultrasonography on D30 and D70, and after the final diagnosis, females were classified in four groups: Pregnant; Non-pregnant; Functional CL on D20 but non-pregnant (CL-NP) and Pregnancy loss between D30 and D70 (PL). After determining cutoff values, the Sensitivity (SE), Specificity (SP), Positive Predictive Value (PPV), Negative Predictive Value (NPV) and Accuracy (ACC) were determined for each method. All methods were classified as significant (P < 0.05) predictors of pregnancy. Both ISG expression and PAG concentrations were greater (P < 0.05) in pregnant females than in non-pregnant and CL-NP females but did not differ (P > 0.05) from the PL group. ISG15 expression was greater (P < 0.05) in heifers than in cows, but this difference was not found in OAS1 expression and PAG concentrations. All the methods evaluated were proven to be adequate predictors of pregnancy, but greater accuracies were obtained through PAG concentrations and Doppler-US, due to the decreased number of false positive and false negative results.
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Singh SP, Natesan R, Sharma N, Goel AK, Singh MK, Kharche SD. Assessment of pregnancy-associated glycoprotein profile in milk for early pregnancy diagnosis in goats. Anim Biosci 2020; 34:26-35. [PMID: 32054161 PMCID: PMC7888492 DOI: 10.5713/ajas.19.0399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2019] [Accepted: 12/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective This study was conducted to assess the level of pregnancy-associated glycoprotein (PAG) in whole and skim milk samples, and its suitability for early pregnancy diagnosis in goats. Methods A two-step sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) system for estimation of milk PAG was developed and validated, which employed caprine-PAG specific polyclonal antisera. Whole and skim milk samples (n = 210 each) from fifteen multiparous goats were collected on alternate days from d 10 to d 30, and thereafter weekly till d 51 post-mating. PAG levels in milk samples were estimated by ELISA and the pregnancies were confirmed at d40 post-mating by transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS). Results The level of PAG in whole and skim milk samples of both pregnant and non-pregnant goats remained below the threshold values until d 24 after mating. Thereafter, PAG concentration in whole and skim milk increased steadily in pregnant goats, whereas it continued below the threshold in non-pregnant does. The PAG profiles in whole and skim milk of pregnant goats were almost similar and exhibited strong positive relationship (r = 0.891; p<0.001). Day 26 post-mating was identified as the first time-point for significantly (p<0.05) higher milk PAG concentration in pregnant goats than to non-pregnant goats. When compared to TRUS examination for pregnancy diagnosis, the accuracy and specificity of PAG ELISA using whole and skim milk samples were 94.5% and 95.4%; and 95.3% and 100%, respectively. The high values of area-under-curve (0.904 [whole milk] and 0.922 [skim milk]), demonstrate outstanding discrimination ability of the milk assays. Among the sampling dates chosen, d 37 post-mating was identified as the best suitable time point for collection of milk samples to detect pregnancy in goats. Conclusion The PAG concentration in whole and skim milk of goats collected between days 26 and 51 post-breeding can be used for the accurate prediction of pregnancy and may be useful for assisting management decisions in goat flocks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiva Pratap Singh
- Animal Physiology and Reproduction Division, Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Central Institute for Research on Goats, Makhdoom, Farah, Mathura, U.P., 281122, India
| | - Ramachandran Natesan
- Animal Physiology and Reproduction Division, Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Central Institute for Research on Goats, Makhdoom, Farah, Mathura, U.P., 281122, India
| | - Nandini Sharma
- Animal Physiology and Reproduction Division, Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Central Institute for Research on Goats, Makhdoom, Farah, Mathura, U.P., 281122, India
| | - Anil Kumar Goel
- Animal Physiology and Reproduction Division, Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Central Institute for Research on Goats, Makhdoom, Farah, Mathura, U.P., 281122, India
| | - Manoj Kumar Singh
- Animal Genetics and Breeding Division, Indian Council of Agricultural ResearchCentral Institute for Research on Goats, Makhdoom, Farah, Mathura, U.P., 281122, India
| | - Suresh Dinkar Kharche
- Animal Physiology and Reproduction Division, Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Central Institute for Research on Goats, Makhdoom, Farah, Mathura, U.P., 281122, India
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Early pregnancy diagnoses based on physiological indexes of dairy cattle: a review. Trop Anim Health Prod 2020; 52:2205-2212. [PMID: 32020411 DOI: 10.1007/s11250-020-02230-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2019] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
With the development of standardization and scaling in the dairy farming industry, timely and accurate pregnancy diagnosis is required to improve the benefits of breeding by shortening the calving interval. However, the current pregnancy diagnostic methods cannot meet the requirements of the industry. Here, we review changes in the physiological indexes and in the function and morphological status of the reproductive organs of dairy cows at the early stages of pregnancy. In addition, the corresponding pregnancy diagnostic methods based on certain indexes are well development, and the pregnancy diagnostic approaches based on remote sensing and automation technology have become inevitable trends in the industry. These applications will reveal physiological regularities in pregnancy and benefit the detailed management of dairy cows during early pregnancy.
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Singh SP, Ramachandran N, Sharma N, Goel AK, de Sousa NM, Beckers JF, Swain DK, Singh MK, Kharche SD. Relationship of foetal number and parity in Barbari goats to plasma profile of caprine pregnancy-associated glycoprotein (caPAG) during gestation and the early postpartum period. Anim Reprod Sci 2019; 210:106190. [PMID: 31635784 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2019.106190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2019] [Revised: 07/09/2019] [Accepted: 09/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
This study was conducted to characterise pregnancy-associated glycoprotein (caPAG) in peripheral plasma during gestation and postpartum periods of nulliparous and multiparous does with one or two foetuses using a caPAG specific two-step sandwich ELISA system. Earliest time-points for detection of pregnancy and foetal number with appropriate cut-off values were identified. Plasma samples from 15 pregnant (multiparous: n = 8; nulliparous: n = 7; during pregnancy and postpartum period) and six non-pregnant (during oestrous cycle) goats were collected and analysed. Mean caPAG concentration was greater than the threshold for pregnancy detection (S-N = 0.40) on d22, peaked on d45 and remained unchanged until parturition. From d45 until parturition, caPAG concentration in multiparous does with two foetuses was 1.4 to 1.8 fold greater (P < 0.001) than those with one foetus. For the ELISA, 0.83 (S-N) was the most appropriate cut-off to differentiate does with two from those with a single foetus with an overall sensitivity and accuracy of 88.9% and 84.7%, respectively. Circulating caPAG concentration in multiparous goats was greater (P < 0.05) compared with nulliparous goats during the early pregnancy and postpartum periods. After parturition, caPAG concentrations markedly decreased and were basal within 14 days postpartum. In conclusion, using the caPAG specific ELISA, results indicated there were unique gestational and postpartum profiles for caPAG concentrations that are affected by number of foetuses and parity of the doe. The marked decrease in concentration of caPAG following parturition indicates there would not be compromising of the detection of subsequent pregnancies in goats using this technique.
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Affiliation(s)
- S P Singh
- Animal Physiology and Reproduction Division, ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Goats, Makhdoom, Farah, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, India.
| | - N Ramachandran
- Animal Physiology and Reproduction Division, ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Goats, Makhdoom, Farah, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - N Sharma
- Animal Physiology and Reproduction Division, ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Goats, Makhdoom, Farah, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - A K Goel
- Animal Physiology and Reproduction Division, ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Goats, Makhdoom, Farah, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - N M de Sousa
- Laboratory of Animal Endocrinology and Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liege, 4000, Belgium
| | - J F Beckers
- Laboratory of Animal Endocrinology and Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liege, 4000, Belgium
| | - D K Swain
- Department of Veterinary Physiology, College of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry, UP Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Pashu Chikitsa Vigyan Vishwavidyalaya Evam Go Anusandhan Sansthan, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - M K Singh
- Animal Genetics and Breeding Division, ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Goats, Makhdoom, Farah, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - S D Kharche
- Animal Physiology and Reproduction Division, ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Goats, Makhdoom, Farah, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, India
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Early pregnancy diagnosis at 21 days post artificial insemination using corpus luteum vascular perfusion compared to corpus luteum diameter and/or echogenicity in Nelore heifers. Anim Reprod Sci 2019; 209:106144. [PMID: 31514923 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2019.106144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2019] [Revised: 07/26/2019] [Accepted: 08/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
The objective was to compare the use of corpus luteum (CL) vascular perfusion to CL diameter and/or echogenicity to diagnose pregnancy at 21 d after timed-AI. Ovaries of Nelore heifers were assessed using ultrasonography in B-mode and color Doppler simultaneously 21 d after timed-AI (n = 113). Objective evaluations were performed using an image processing software to extract the number of colored pixels (ColorPix), diameter (mm) and echogenicity/mm² (EchoPix) of the CL. Subjective evaluations of the CL were performed by five evaluators using scores of estimated vascular perfusion area of color Doppler scan videos and estimated CL size and qualitative echogenicity of B-mode scan videos. The reference pregnancy diagnosis was performed 33 d after timed-AI using an ultrasonic device. Corpus luteum ColorPix, diameter and EchoPix were highly correlated (P < 0.001) with pregnancy. Pregnancy diagnosis accuracy, sensitivity, and negative predictive value were not different for CL ColorPix and diameter and was less with use of EchoPix compared to the other parameters. Size and vascular perfusion scores were correlated to the greatest extent (0.88-0.94) with the respective objective values within evaluator. The results from the ROC curve analysis indicated a smaller area under the curve for qualitative echogenicity compared to CL size and vascular perfusion. Corpus luteum vascular perfusion was the only subjective evaluation that when assessed there were no false negative pregnancy diagnoses. In conclusion, the use of the objective CL diameter resulted in the same efficacy as CL vascular perfusion evaluations for early pregnancy diagnosis in Nelore heifers.
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Middleton EL, Pursley JR. Short communication: Blood samples before and after embryonic attachment accurately determine non-pregnant lactating dairy cows at 24 d post-artificial insemination using a commercially available assay for pregnancy-specific protein B. J Dairy Sci 2019; 102:7570-7575. [PMID: 31178191 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2018-15961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2018] [Accepted: 03/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Early pregnancy diagnosis is critical to reproductive success on dairy farms. Reproductive success depends on cows becoming pregnant before 130 d in milk and then maintaining that pregnancy. The earlier non-pregnant cows are identified, the sooner they can be reinseminated, thus reducing days to pregnancy. Assays for pregnancy-specific protein B (PSPB) and pregnancy-associated glycoproteins can be used to diagnose pregnancy >28 d post-artificial insemination (AI) in lactating cows. The objective of this study was to determine whether percentage change in serum levels of PSPB within cow from d 17 to 24 can be used to identify non-pregnant cows using a commercially available assay. This study was performed on a large commercial dairy. Blood samples were taken at d 17 and 24 post-AI. The d 17 sample served as a baseline based on previous data. Cows with a 10% increase in serum PSPB levels from d 17 to 24 were considered pregnant. Lactating dairy cows (n = 206; 39% primiparous and 61% multiparous) were synchronized using G6G-Ovsynch. The PSPB diagnosis was compared with the herd veterinarian's diagnosis via ultrasound on d 34. The sensitivity for a 10% cutoff as a non-pregnant diagnosis was 100%, and the specificity was 93.58%. The positive predictive value was 93.27%, and the negative predictive value was 100%. Low PSPB levels at d 24 were predictive of early pregnancy loss by 60 d post-AI. To our knowledge no other method can diagnose non-pregnancy with 100% accuracy and predict pregnancy loss earlier than 24 d post-AI. Using comparative PSPB samples at d 17 and 24 post-AI provides an accurate non-pregnancy diagnosis earlier than any other pregnancy diagnosing method.
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Affiliation(s)
- E L Middleton
- Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824
| | - J R Pursley
- Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824.
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Duplex Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction of ISG15 and RSAD2 Increases Accuracy of Early Pregnancy Diagnosis in Dairy Cows. ANNALS OF ANIMAL SCIENCE 2019. [DOI: 10.2478/aoas-2019-0001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Early diagnosis of pregnancy is important in livestock production, but there is no reliable technology used for pregnancy diagnosis within the first three weeks after insemination. During early pregnancy, the expression of interferon-stimulating genes (ISGs) in peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) is significantly increased. However, due to different strains, detection sample types, detection methods, threshold value, etc. the specific effectiveness of early pregnancy diagnosis using ISGs is worth further study. The purpose of this study was to test interferon-stimulated protein 15 (ISG15), 2'–5'-oligoadenylate synthetase 1 (OAS1) and radical S-adenosyl methionine domain containing 2 (RSAD2) for early pregnancy diagnosis in dairy cows. The expression of ISG15, OAS1, and RSAD2 in PBL of pregnant and non-pregnant heifers on days 0, 14, 18, 21 and 28 after artificial insemination (AI) was detected by fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The sensitivity and specificity of the pregnancy diagnosis was analyzed using expression of these three genes separately or in combination by receiver operating characteristic curve. The combination with the highest accuracy used probe primers and duplex fluorescence quantitative PCR. The single quantitative PCR results showed that expression of ISG15, OAS1 and RSAD2 on day 18 after AI was significantly higher in pregnant than in non-pregnant cows. When these three genes were used separately, or in combination, for early pregnancy diagnosis, the sensitivity for the RSAD2 gene was 100%, and the combination of ISG15 with RSAD2 was 94.7%. The duplex quantitative PCR showed that, although the sensitivity of ISG15 alone was 100%, its specificity was only 88.2% (cut-off value 1.402). The sensitivity of RSAD2 alone was 89.5%, and the specificity was 88.2%; however, when the two genes were used in combination, the sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic cut-off value were consistent with the results of single quantitative PCR. These results indicated that a duplex quantitative PCR assay system for early pregnancy diagnosis in cows using ISG15 and RSAD2 was established. Simultaneous detection of expression of ISG15 and RSAD2 by duplex quantitative PCR can effectively improve the diagnostic accuracy for dairy cows.
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Singh SP, Natesan R, Sharma N, Goel AK, Singh MK, Kharche SD. Pregnancy-associated glycoprotein profile in milk and its relationship with the circulating level during early pregnancy in goats. Small Rumin Res 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2019.02.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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Resynchronisation as an Element of Improving Cattle Reproduction Efficiency. J Vet Res 2019; 63:107-115. [PMID: 30989142 PMCID: PMC6458552 DOI: 10.2478/jvetres-2019-0009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2018] [Accepted: 02/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Oestrus resynchronisation (RES, Resynch) programmes for non-pregnant cows allow shortening the period between an unsuccessful insemination and the next attempt on the same cow. The protocol of oestrus RES may be started after ruling out pregnancy by means of ultrasonography carried out 28 days after insemination or after performing a test for pregnancy-specific glycoproteins (PAG) in blood or milk. The Resynch protocol can be based on a double application of prostaglandins, the OvSynch protocol, or hormonal therapy with exogenous sources of progesterone (CIDR intravaginal devices). The efficiency of the method depends on the functional state of the ovaries, the diameter of the corpus luteum, external factors, and the health and maturity of the cows. The present paper constitutes a comparison of research findings concerning the effectiveness of RES programmes.
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Panasiewicz G, Lipka A, Majewska M, Bieniek-Kobuszewska M, Saveljev AP, Szafranska B. Identification of pregnancy-associated glycoprotein family (PAG) in the brown bear (Ursus arctos L.). Acta Histochem 2019; 121:240-247. [PMID: 30616842 DOI: 10.1016/j.acthis.2018.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2018] [Revised: 12/10/2018] [Accepted: 12/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAGs) are abundant embryo-originated products expressed in the pre-placental trophoblast and, later, in the post-implantational chorionic epithelium of some mammalian species. This paper describes the identification and cellular immunolocalization of the chorionic PAG family in the discoidal-type placenta of the brown bear (Ursus arctos L. - Ua), in which the PAGs were named 'UaPAG-Ls'. The study used: 1) Western blot for total placental glycoproteins; and 2) cross-species heterologous double fluorescent immunohistochemistry (IHC) for cellular immune-localization of the PAGs. This is the first study reporting the identification and immunolocalization of the UaPAG-L family in placental cells during early pregnancy in the brown bear. Our Western analysis revealed a dominant mature 72 kDa UaPAG-L isoform was expressed in all Ua placentas during early pregnancy. Various other UaPAG-L isoforms (16-66 kDa) were also identified. Using IHC, the UaPAG-L proteins were localized to trophectodermal cells (TRD), where signal intensity resembled intense TRD proliferation within developing placenta. The data increases our general knowledge of PAG proteins localized in discoidal-type placenta during early pregnancy in the brown bear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grzegorz Panasiewicz
- Department of Animal Anatomy and Physiology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Oczapowskiego Str 1A, 10-719 Olsztyn-Kortowo, Poland.
| | - Aleksandra Lipka
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Niepodleglosci Str 44, 10-045 Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Marta Majewska
- Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Warszawska Str 30, 10-082 Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Martyna Bieniek-Kobuszewska
- Department of Dermatology, Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Clinical Immunology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Wojska Polskiego Str 30, 10-229 Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Alexander P Saveljev
- Department of Animal Ecology, Russian Research Institute of Game Management and Fur Farming, Preobrazhenskaya Str 79, 610000 Kirov, Russian Federation
| | - Bozena Szafranska
- Department of Animal Anatomy and Physiology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Oczapowskiego Str 1A, 10-719 Olsztyn-Kortowo, Poland
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Northrop EJ, Rich JJJ, Rhoades JR, Perry GA. Comparison of two bovine serum pregnancy tests in detection of artificial insemination pregnancies and pregnancy loss in beef cattle. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0211179. [PMID: 30673760 PMCID: PMC6344102 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0211179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2018] [Accepted: 01/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Blood tests for early detection of pregnancy in cattle based on pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAGs) are commercially available. The objective of these studies were to compare the accuracy of blood tests to transrectal ultrasonography in detecting AI pregnancies, and to compare the accuracy of blood tests in predicting pregnancy loss. Beef cattle from 6 herds were synchronized using a recommended CIDR based protocol (Study 1: n = 460; Study 2: n = 472). Pregnancy status was determined by transrectal ultrasonography between days 28–40 following AI, blood samples were collected at this time. In study 2 a final pregnancy determination was performed at the end of the breeding season to determine pregnancy loss. Each serum sample was examined for PAG concentrations using a microtiter plate reader and/or scored by two technicians blind to pregnancy status and pregnancy loss. For study 1 Cohen’s kappa statistics were calculated to assess the agreement between each test and transrectal ultrasonography. For study 2 data was analyzed using the GLIMMIX procedure of SAS with herd as a random effect, and loss, age, and their interaction included in the model. Agreement was good to very good for each test. There was no difference (P = 0.79) in sensitivity, but a difference (P<0.01) in specificity of the assays (88%, 64%, 87%, 90%) and in the overall percent correct (93%, 84%, 93%, 93%). There was an effect of pregnancy loss (P = 0.04), age (P = 0.0002), and their interaction (P = 0.06) on PAG concentrations. In conclusion both pregnancy tests were accurate at detecting AI pregnancies, and were in very good agreement with transrectal ultrasonography. Both tests detected differences in PAGs among females that maintained and lost pregnancy; however, prediction proved to be difficult as most females were above the threshold and would have been considered pregnant on the day of testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmalee J. Northrop
- Department of Animal Science, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD, United States of America
| | - Jerica J. J. Rich
- Department of Animal Science, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD, United States of America
| | - Jim R. Rhoades
- IDEXX Laboratories, Westbrook, ME, United States of America
| | - George A. Perry
- Department of Animal Science, South Dakota State University, Brookings, SD, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Steckeler P, Weber F, Zerbe H, Rieger A, Voigt K. Evaluation of a bovine visual pregnancy test for the detection of pregnancy-associated glycoproteins in sheep. Reprod Domest Anim 2018; 54:280-288. [PMID: 30267612 DOI: 10.1111/rda.13356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2018] [Accepted: 09/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
As sheep produce similar pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAGs) to cattle, a commercially available bovine visual pregnancy test based on the detection of PAGs (visual-PAG-test) was evaluated in sheep. The test was performed with whole blood (WhB), plasma (P) and serum (S) of 163 pregnant and 153 non-pregnant ewes. Additionally, 11 pregnant ewes were tested weekly from day 14 to 49 of gestation and monthly from day 60 to day 149. Ten ewes were sampled weekly from the date of lambing until day 63 post-partum (p.p.). The sensitivity in mid-pregnancy (n = 163) was 98.16% (WhB), 99.39% (P) and 99.39% (S) compared to transabdominal ultrasonography as the gold standard while the specificity (n = 153) was 94.12% (WhB), 76.47% (P) and 93.46% (S), respectively. During early pregnancy, all 11 ewes were correctly identified as pregnant on day 42 (100%); however, the test sensitivity decreased to 54.6% (WhB) and 63.6% (S and P, respectively) at day 49. The ewes were again consistently identified as pregnant on day 63 (P) or on day 119 (S, WhB). The test was consistently negative from day 42 p.p. onwards in eight out of ten ewes. Two ewes remained consistently positive until the last sample on day 63 p.p. In conclusion, the test could be used to accurately select pregnant ewes at day 42 with a drop in sensitivity at day 49. The sensitivity of the visual-PAG-test was good in mid to late pregnancy, and early detection of pregnancy was possible in individual animals. In some ewes, the PAGs were however detectable for more than 63 days p.p.-the previous breeding history should therefore always be taken into account for correct interpretation of the test results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Steckeler
- Clinic for Ruminants with Ambulatory and Herd Health Services, Ludwig Maximilians-University Munich, Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | - Frank Weber
- Clinic for Ruminants with Ambulatory and Herd Health Services, Ludwig Maximilians-University Munich, Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | - Holm Zerbe
- Clinic for Ruminants with Ambulatory and Herd Health Services, Ludwig Maximilians-University Munich, Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | - Anna Rieger
- Clinic for Ruminants with Ambulatory and Herd Health Services, Ludwig Maximilians-University Munich, Oberschleissheim, Germany
| | - Katja Voigt
- Clinic for Ruminants with Ambulatory and Herd Health Services, Ludwig Maximilians-University Munich, Oberschleissheim, Germany
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Abstract
This manuscript describes the different topics I have been involved in the fields of reproductive
physiology and embryo biotechnologies with attempts to address practical issues raised
mainly by the breeding industry. The journey started with phenotyping work in the field of
reproductive physio-pathology. Other issues were related to the optimization of reproductive
biotechnologies to favorize genetic selection. The implementation of genomic selection
raised opportunities to develop the use embryo biotechnologies and showed the interest of
combining them in the case of embryo genotyping. There is still a need to refine phenotyping
for reproductive traits especially for the identification of markers of uterine dysfunction.
It is believed that new knowledge generated by combining different molecular approaches
will be the source of applications that may benefit AI practice and embryo technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrice Humblot
- Division of Reproduction, Department of Clinical Sciences, SLU, Uppsala, Sweden
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Bragança GM, Monteiro BM, Albuquerque RDS, de Souza DC, Campello CC, Zimmerman SO, Melo WDO, Teixeira PPM, Filho JDR, Viana RB. Using pregnancy-associated glycoproteins to provide early pregnancy diagnosis in Nelore cows. Livest Sci 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2018.06.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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Stevenson JS, Britt JH. A 100-Year Review: Practical female reproductive management. J Dairy Sci 2018; 100:10292-10313. [PMID: 29153166 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2017-12959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2017] [Accepted: 05/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Basic knowledge of mechanisms controlling reproductive processes in mammals was limited in the early 20th century. Discoveries of physiologic processes and mechanisms made early in the last century laid the foundation to develop technologies and programs used today to manage and control reproduction in dairy cattle. Beyond advances made in understanding of gonadotropic support and control of ovarian and uterine functions in basic reproductive biology, advancements made in artificial insemination (AI) and genetics facilitated rapid genetic progress of economically important traits in dairy cattle. Technologies associated with management have each contributed to the evolution of reproductive management, including (1) hormones to induce estrus and ovulation to facilitate AI programs; (2) pregnancy diagnosis via ultrasonography or by measuring conceptus-derived pregnancy-associated glycoproteins; (3) estrus-detection aids first devised for monitoring only physical activity but that now also quantitate feeding, resting, and rumination times, and ear temperature; (4) sex-sorted semen; (5) computers and computerized record software packages; (6) handheld devices for tracking cow location and retrieving cow records; and (7) genomics for increasing genetic progress of reproductive and other economically important traits. Because of genetic progress in milk yield and component traits, the dairy population in the United States has been stable since the mid 1990s, with approximately 9 to 9.5 million cows. Therefore, many of these technologies and changes in management have been developed in the face of increasing herd size (4-fold since 1990), and changes from pastoral or dry-lot dairies to increased housing of cows in confinement buildings with freestalls and feed-line lockups. Management of groups of "like" cows has become equally important as management of the one. Management teams, including owner-managers, herdsmen, AI representatives, milkers, and numerous consultants dealing with health, feeding, and facilities, became essential to develop working protocols, monitor training and day-to-day chores, and evaluate current trends and revenues. Good management teams inspect and follow through with what is routinely expected of workers. As herd size will undoubtedly increase in the future, practical reproductive management must evolve to adapt to the new technologies that may find more herds being milked robotically and applying technologies not yet conceived or introduced.
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Affiliation(s)
- J S Stevenson
- Department of Animal Sciences and Industry, Kansas State University, Manhattan 66506-0201.
| | - J H Britt
- Department of Animal Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh 27695
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Could a bovine pregnancy rapid test be an alternative to a commercial pregnancy-associated glycoprotein ELISA test in dairy cattle? Anim Reprod Sci 2018. [PMID: 29525209 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2018.02.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to compare a Bovine Pregnancy Rapid Test (Ubio quickVET; BPRT) with a commercial ELISA-PAG test (Bovine Pregnancy Test DG29®) for early pregnancy diagnosis based on the presence of the PAG (pregnancy-associated glycoprotein) in dairy cattle between 30 and 40 days after artificial insemination (AI). Blood samples were collected from 212 cows between 30 and 40 days after artificial insemination (AI) to quantify the concentrations of PAG in each sample. Transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) diagnosis of pregnancy was conducted at day 45 ± 3 after AI as the reference standard for the two PAG tests. The results indicated the sensitivity (Se) of the BPRT and DG29 for diagnosing pregnant cattle were 89.4% and 100%, respectively while the specificity (Sp) of the two tests for diagnosis of non-pregnant animals was 89.8% and 81.3%, respectively. Based on these results, the BPRT has a slightly lesser sensitivity and greater specificity than the DG29 test. Moreover, the accuracy of both tests was 94% and 90% respectively for DG29 and BPRT. This implies that the BPRT test could be considered an accurate test when compared to PAG-ELISA test and TRUS at days 30-40 after AI. The BPRT test, therefore, can be used as an alternative to the PAG-ELISA test with some constraints that need to be considered with its use.
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Toledo MZ, Baez GM, Garcia-Guerra A, Lobos NE, Guenther JN, Trevisol E, Luchini D, Shaver RD, Wiltbank MC. Effect of feeding rumen-protected methionine on productive and reproductive performance of dairy cows. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0189117. [PMID: 29261700 PMCID: PMC5738048 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0189117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2017] [Accepted: 11/20/2017] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of daily top-dressing (individually feeding on the top of the total mixed ration) with rumen-protected methionine (RPM) from 30 ± 3 until 126 ± 3 Days in milk on productive and reproductive performance in lactating dairy cows. A total of 309 lactating dairy Holstein cows (138 primiparous and 171 multiparous) were randomly assigned to treatment diets containing either RPM (21.2 g of RPM + 38.8 g of dried distillers grain; 2.34% Methionine [Met] of metabolizable protein [MP]) or Control (CON; 60 g of dried distillers grain; 1.87% Met of MP). Plasma amino acids were evaluated at the time of artificial insemination (AI) and near pregnancy diagnosis. Milk production and milk composition were evaluated monthly. Pregnancy was diagnosed on Day 28 (by Pregnancy-specific protein B [PSPB]), 32, 47, and 61 (by ultrasound) and sizes of embryonic and amniotic vesicle were determined by ultrasound on Day 33 after AI. Feeding RPM increased plasma Met at 6, 9, 12, and 18 hours after top-dressing with a peak at 12 hours (52.4 vs 26.0 μM; P < 0.001) and returned to basal by 24 hours. Cows fed RPM had a small increase in milk protein percentage (3.08 vs 3.00%; P = 0.04) with no differences on milk yield and milk protein yield. Additionally, in multiparous cows, RPM feeding increased milk protein (3.03 vs 2.95%; P = 0.05) and fat (3.45 vs 3.14%; P = 0.01) percentages, although no effects were observed in primiparous cows. In multiparous cows fed RPM, pregnancy loss was lower between Days 28 to 61 (19.6 [10/51] vs. 6.1% [3/49]; P = 0.03) or between Days 32 to 61 (8.9 [4/45] vs. 0 [0/0] %; P = 0.03), although, there was no effect of treatment on pregnancy loss in primiparous cows. Consistent with data on pregnancy loss, RPM feeding increased embryonic abdominal diameter (P = 0.01) and volume (P = 0.009) and amniotic vesicle volume (P = 0.04) on Day 33 of pregnancy in multiparous cows but had no effect on embryonic size in primiparous cows. Thus, the increase in plasma Met concentrations after feeding RPM was sufficient to produce a small increase in milk protein percentage and to improve embryonic size and pregnancy maintenance in multiparous cows. Further studies are needed to confirm these responses and understand the biological mechanisms that underlie these responses as well as the timing and concentrations of circulating Met that are needed to produce this effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mateus Z. Toledo
- Department of Dairy Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, Unites States of America
| | - Giovanni M. Baez
- Department of Dairy Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, Unites States of America
| | - Alvaro Garcia-Guerra
- Department of Dairy Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, Unites States of America
- Endocrinology and Reproductive Physiology Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States of America
| | - Nelson E. Lobos
- Department of Dairy Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, Unites States of America
| | - Jerry N. Guenther
- Department of Dairy Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, Unites States of America
| | - Eduardo Trevisol
- Department of Dairy Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, Unites States of America
| | - Daniel Luchini
- Adisseo USA Inc., Alpharetta, Georgia, Unites States of America
| | - Randy D. Shaver
- Department of Dairy Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, Unites States of America
| | - Milo C. Wiltbank
- Department of Dairy Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, Unites States of America
- Endocrinology and Reproductive Physiology Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Gatea AO, Smith MF, Pohler KG, Egen T, Pereira MHC, Vasconselos JLM, Lawrence JC, Green JA. The ability to predict pregnancy loss in cattle with ELISAs that detect pregnancy associated glycoproteins is antibody dependent. Theriogenology 2017; 108:269-276. [PMID: 29275034 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2017.12.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2017] [Revised: 12/05/2017] [Accepted: 12/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The concentration of circulating pregnancy associated glycoproteins (PAGs) early in pregnancy may serve as markers to predict late embryonic mortality or fetal mortality in cattle. In this study, pregnancies were established in dairy cows, by either fixed-time AI (FTAI) or fixed-time embryo transfer (FTET) with in vitro produced embryos. Circulating PAGs were measured with different combinations of antibodies in either a laboratory-based ELISA or a commercial ELISA. For the in-house ELISA, three monoclonal 'trapping' antibodies (A6, J2, and L4) and two polyclonal 'detection' antisera (antibodies F2 or 45) were used to quantify PAGs in serum from the same cows. The different assays were identified as follows: 'Mix-45' (A6, J2, and L4 with 45), 'Mix-F2' (A6, J2, and L4 with F2), and 'L4-F2': (L4 with F2); the commercial assay was from IDEXX. Ovulation was synchronized and FTAI or FTET was performed on day 0 or 7, respectively. Ultrasound-based diagnosis of pregnancy and serum collections occurred on day 30. The proportion of cows that subsequently experienced pregnancy loss between days 30 and 60 was 23% (43 of 183) and 16% (21 of 131) for the FTAI or FTET groups, respectively. In the FTAI group, mean serum concentration of PAGs detected with Mix-45 was higher in cows that maintained pregnancy (9.2 ± 0.4 ng/ml; mean ± SEM) compared with cows that experienced pregnancy failure (3.9 ± 0.6 ng/ml) between day 30-60 (P < .001). However, there was no difference (P > .69) in circulating concentrations of PAGs between cows that experienced loss or survival between days 30 and 60 when Mix-F2 or L4-F2 were used in an in-house ELISA. Likewise, a commercial assay also did not result in measurable differences in PAG concentrations between those animals that experienced loss or survival. Following FTET, circulating concentrations of PAGs on day 30 were lower (P < .001) in cows that experienced pregnancy failure compared to cows that maintained pregnancy when the Mix-45 and the commercial assay were used, but not with the other antibody combinations. A receiver operating characteristic curve showed that only the Mix-45 antibody combination was predictive (95% accuracy) of pregnancy loss but not the other antibody combinations following FTAI. However, both Mix-45 and the commercial assay were predictive of losses following FTET. In summary, although multiple PAG assay formats have been shown to accurately detect pregnancy, the ability to predict embryo survival during early gestation appears to be antibody dependent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed O Gatea
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Michael F Smith
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Ky G Pohler
- Department of Animal Science, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Tina Egen
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Marcos H C Pereira
- Departamento de Produção Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia-UNESP, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - José L M Vasconselos
- Departamento de Produção Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia-UNESP, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Jonathan A Green
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.
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46
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Ricci A, Carvalho P, Amundson M, Fricke P. Characterization of luteal dynamics in lactating Holstein cows for 32 days after synchronization of ovulation and timed artificial insemination. J Dairy Sci 2017; 100:9851-9860. [DOI: 10.3168/jds.2017-13293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2017] [Accepted: 08/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
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47
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Reese ST, Pereira MHC, Edwards JL, Vasconcelos JLM, Pohler KG. Pregnancy diagnosis in cattle using pregnancy associated glycoprotein concentration in circulation at day 24 of gestation. Theriogenology 2017; 106:178-185. [PMID: 29073542 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2017.10.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2017] [Revised: 10/05/2017] [Accepted: 10/09/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Cattle producers are limited to day 28-30 of gestation as the earliest time point for accurate pregnancy diagnosis due to the effectiveness of ultrasound and chemical based methods, including commercially available pregnancy associated glycoproteins (PAG) tests. The objective of the current studies were to determine if early gestation circulating PAG concentrations at day 24 could be used to diagnose pregnancy in dairy cattle undergoing embryo transfer. In vitro produced embryos were transferred into Holstein x Gir cows and heifers on day 7 following ovulation. Study 1 utilized only cows (n = 101) determined to be pregnant on day 24 of gestation by progesterone concentration, as well as CL and PAG presence. In study 2, animals were not predetermined to be pregnant and both heifers (n = 111) and cows (n = 242) were used. In both studies, blood was collected at day 24 for PAG analysis as well as day 31. Final pregnancy confirmation occurred on day 60 via transrectal ultrasonography. Serum PAG concentrations were quantified using an in house PAG ELISA. Following timed embryo transfer (TET) in study 1, of the 101 cows diagnosed as pregnant on day 24, 80 cows were identified as still pregnant on day 31 of gestation (77%). Study 2 had a pregnancy rate at day 31 of 33.7% of total embryos transferred. Mean circulating PAG concentration at day 24 differed (P < 0.001) between animals diagnosed pregnant and non-pregnant at day 31 in both studies (study 1, 2.964 ± 0.262 ng/mL vs 0.946 ± 0.168 ng/mL and study 2, 1.962 ± 0.261 ng/mL vs 0.731 ± 0.109 ng/mL). Concentration of PAG between pregnant and non-pregnant cows in study 1 and 2 was significant, however, pregnant heifers in study 2 (1.562 ± 0.266 ng/mL) had concentration of PAGs that only had a tendency to differ compared to non-pregnant heifers (non-pregnant, 0.799 ± 0.290 ng/mL; P = 0.0669). Only animals that were pregnant at day 31 were analyzed in late embryo mortality analysis (heifers, n = 54; cows, n = 159), defined as pregnancy loss between day 31 and 60. Between day 31 and 60, 39 (12 in study 1 and 28 in study 2) animals experienced late embryo mortality. Circulating concentrations of PAG were not significantly different (P > 0.05), in either study, at day 24 of gestation in animals that maintained pregnancy until day 60 compared to animals that lost pregnancy between day 31 and 60 (late embryo mortality, LEM). In summary, early gestation circulating PAG concentration may have application in diagnosing pregnancy at day 24 of gestation and more work is needed to determine the potential of early gestation PAGs in predicting embryo loss in dairy.
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Affiliation(s)
- S T Reese
- Department of Animal Science, University of Tennessee, 2506 River Drive, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | - M H C Pereira
- Department of Animal Production, São Paulo State University, Botucatu, SP, Brazil
| | - J L Edwards
- Department of Animal Science, University of Tennessee, 2506 River Drive, Knoxville, TN, United States
| | - J L M Vasconcelos
- Department of Animal Production, São Paulo State University, Botucatu, SP, Brazil
| | - K G Pohler
- Department of Animal Science, University of Tennessee, 2506 River Drive, Knoxville, TN, United States.
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48
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Fosgate GT, Motimele B, Ganswindt A, Irons PC. A Bayesian latent class model to estimate the accuracy of pregnancy diagnosis by transrectal ultrasonography and laboratory detection of pregnancy-associated glycoproteins in dairy cows. Prev Vet Med 2017; 145:100-109. [PMID: 28903866 DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2017.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2017] [Revised: 06/27/2017] [Accepted: 07/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Accurate diagnosis of pregnancy is an essential component of an effective reproductive management plan for dairy cattle. Indirect methods of pregnancy detection can be performed soon after breeding and offer an advantage over traditional direct methods in not requiring an experienced veterinarian and having potential for automation. The objective of this study was to estimate the sensitivity and specificity of pregnancy-associated glycoprotein (PAG) detection ELISA and transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) in dairy cows of South Africa using a Bayesian latent class approach. Commercial dairy cattle from the five important dairy regions in South Africa were enrolled in a short-term prospective cohort study. Cattle were examined at 28-35days after artificial insemination (AI) and then followed up 14days later. At both sampling times, TRUS was performed to detect pregnancy and commercially available PAG detection ELISAs were performed on collected serum and milk. A total of 1236 cows were sampled and 1006 had complete test information for use in the Bayesian latent class model. The estimated sensitivity (95% probability interval) and specificity for PAG detection serum ELISA were 99.4% (98.5, 99.9) and 97.4% (94.7, 99.2), respectively. The estimated sensitivity and specificity for PAG detection milk ELISA were 99.2% (98.2, 99.8) and 93.4% (89.7, 96.1), respectively. Sensitivity of veterinarian performed TRUS at 28-35days post-AI varied between 77.8% and 90.5% and specificity varied between 94.7% and 99.8%. In summary, indirect detection of pregnancy using PAG ELISA is an accurate method for use in dairy cattle. The method is descriptively more sensitive than veterinarian-performed TRUS and therefore could be an economically viable addition to a reproductive management plan.
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Affiliation(s)
- G T Fosgate
- University of Pretoria, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Department of Production Animal Studies, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa.
| | - B Motimele
- University of Pretoria, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Department of Production Animal Studies, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa; Agricultural Research Council-Animal Production Institute, Irene 0062, South Africa
| | - A Ganswindt
- University of Pretoria, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Endocrine Research Laboratory, Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Onderstepoort 0110, South Africa
| | - P C Irons
- University of Pretoria, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Department of Production Animal Studies, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa; Murdoch University, College of Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Western Australia, 6150, Australia
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49
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Bayesian estimation of sensitivity and specificity of a milk pregnancy-associated glycoprotein-based ELISA and of transrectal ultrasonographic exam for diagnosis of pregnancy at 28–45 days following breeding in dairy cows. Prev Vet Med 2017; 140:122-133. [DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2017.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2016] [Revised: 01/13/2017] [Accepted: 03/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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50
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Carvalho P, Consentini C, Weaver S, Barleta R, Hernandez L, Fricke P. Temporarily decreasing progesterone after timed artificial insemination decreased expression of interferon-tau stimulated gene 15 (ISG15) in blood leukocytes, serum pregnancy-specific protein B concentrations, and embryo size in lactating Holstein cows. J Dairy Sci 2017; 100:3233-3242. [DOI: 10.3168/jds.2016-11996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2016] [Accepted: 12/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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