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Joonè CJ. Evidence-based practice in canine artificial insemination. Aust Vet J 2024. [PMID: 38733177 DOI: 10.1111/avj.13336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2023] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
A number of methods are currently used to predict the optimal date of insemination of the breeding bitch, particularly with the use of frozen-thawed canine semen which has a far shorter lifespan than fresh semen. Aside from confirming cytological oestrus, vaginal cytology is of no assistance in predicting the most fertile day(s) in a bitch; however, a neglected avenue of research suggests that vaginal cytology may be of great importance in confirming the days of optimal fertility retrospectively. Similarly, vaginoscopy provides clues as to the stage of a bitch's cycle but is inadequate as a sole determinant of her most fertile days. Nevertheless, vaginoscopy is useful to identify very late oestrus and the onset of dioestrus, as well as Stage I of labour (cervical dilatation). Due to variations in the rate at which circulating progesterone concentrations rise in individual bitches, the reliability of circulating progesterone concentrations for determining the optimal day(s) of insemination with frozen-thawed semen decreases as values rise. Moreover, progesterone assay results can vary widely due to extrinsic factors such as the time of blood sampling, sample storage conditions and the assay employed. Finally, this review investigates evidence surrounding various insemination routes and suggests that well-performed vaginal insemination, even with frozen-thawed semen, may be an acceptable approach for cases where transcervical insemination is impractical.
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Affiliation(s)
- C J Joonè
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
- North Queensland Reproduction, Townsville, Queensland, 4817, Australia
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Joonè CJ, Cavalieri J. Sustained-release deslorelin acetate implants disrupt oestrous cyclicity in the mare. Aust Vet J 2023. [PMID: 37062896 DOI: 10.1111/avj.13244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/18/2023]
Abstract
There is a need for a safe, effective and practical method of oestrus suppression in the mare. The aim of this study was to monitor ovarian activity in mares exposed to either 9.4 or 28.2 mg deslorelin acetate, a GnRH agonist, in the form of a sustained-release implant. Following oestrus synchronisation, mares were randomly assigned to one of three groups (n = 4 per group) and administered either one (Des1 group; 9.4 mg) or three (Des3 group; 28.2 mg) implants of deslorelin acetate (Suprelorin-12, Virbac Australia) or one blank implant (Control group; Virbac Australia). Mares underwent weekly blood sampling for 12 weeks following implant placement (Day 0-Day 84), with transrectal palpation and ultrasonography of the reproductive tract at all sampling timepoints except Days 56, 70 and 77. All mares showed baseline serum progesterone concentrations (SPC; ≤1.3 nmol/L or 0.4 ng/ml) on Day 0. Cycling Control mares showed typical oestrous cyclicity characterised by peaks and troughs in SPC over time. Four of eight treated mares demonstrated a sustained elevation in SPC after the initial ovulation after implant placement; SPC declined to baseline levels (Des1 group; 2 mares) or remained elevated (Des3 group; 2 mares) at the final sampling timepoint on Day 84. Oestrous cyclicity was erratic in three of the remaining four treated mares. In total, 87.5% (7 of 8) of treated mares showed atypical oestrous cyclicity after implant placement. These results suggest that deslorelin acetate disrupts oestrous cyclicity in the mare, which warrants further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- C J Joonè
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - J Cavalieri
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
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Nöthling JO, Joonè CJ, De Cramer KGM. The use of serum progesterone and prostaglandin F 2α metabolite levels to predict onset of parturition in the bitch. Reprod Domest Anim 2022; 57:635-642. [PMID: 35238097 DOI: 10.1111/rda.14104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The prediction of time to onset of parturition in a preparturient bitch is of great clinical value, particularly for bitches at high risk of dystocia and those lacking relevant clinical data from the time of breeding. In a previous study, four cut-offs for plasma progesterone levels, measured by radioimmunoassay, were shown to be useful for predicting the likelihood of a bitch entering stage one of parturition within defined time intervals. The first aim of the current study was to evaluate these cut-offs in a clinical setting, using serum progesterone samples drawn from preparturient bitches 12-hourly instead of 6-hourly and assessed using chemiluminescence immunoassay. Furthermore, the use of 13,14-dihydro-15-keto-prostaglandin F2α, (PGFM), a metabolite of prostaglandin F2α , in predicting the time to onset of parturition was evaluated. Forty bitches carrying two or more foetuses were admitted to a specialist veterinary reproduction hospital 53 d after the onset of cytological dioestrus when that date was known, or 57 d after the last mating. Vaginal speculum examinations were performed every 6 h until cervical dilatation was visualised (time of cervical dilatation; TCD). Serum samples were collected at 08h00 and 18h00 daily until TCD. All bitches underwent elective caesarean section at TCD. Results of this study show that approximately 5% and 10% of preparturient bitches will reach TCD within 12 h despite a serum progesterone level of at least 15.8 nmol/L and 8.7 nmol/L respectively. In addition, there is a 95% probability that a preparturient bitch will reach TCD within 48 h if her serum progesterone level is below 8.7 nmol/L, and a 91% probability of her reaching TCD within 24 h if her serum progesterone level is below 3.18 nmol/L. Around 90% of bitches that demonstrate a 20% increase in PGFM over a 12-hour period are likely to be within 36 h of TCD. These results provide useful benchmarks for the management of canine parturition.
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Affiliation(s)
- J O Nöthling
- Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa
| | - C J Joonè
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, Division of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4817, Australia
| | - K G M De Cramer
- Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, 0110, South Africa
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Joonè CJ, Gradil CM, Picard JA, Taylor JD, de Tonnerre D, Cavalieri J. The contraceptive efficacy of a self-assembling intra-uterine device in domestic mares. Aust Vet J 2021; 99:130-136. [PMID: 33462802 DOI: 10.1111/avj.13055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Revised: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The primary aim of this study was to investigate the contraceptive efficacy of a self-assembling uterine device (iUPOD™) in the mare. In addition, the effects of iUPODs on oestrous cyclicity, uterine health and circulating concentrations of cortisol were evaluated. METHODS Domestic mares underwent oestrous monitoring and artificial insemination. After subsequent ovulation, mares underwent either placement (n = 7) or sham placement (n = 7; controls) of an iUPOD device. Devices were left in place for at least 3 months. Pregnancy diagnoses were carried out 14 days post-ovulation, with any pregnancies terminated at 28 days post-ovulation. All mares underwent weekly blood sampling with or without reproductive examinations throughout the study. Towards the end of the study, multiple serum samples collected over three consecutive days were analysed for concentrations of cortisol. Endometrial biopsies were collected before artificial insemination and during the subsequent breeding season. Endometrial cytology and bacterial cultures were performed before device removal (iUPOD mares) or at the end of the study (control mares). RESULTS Pregnancies were diagnosed in 0 of 7 iUPOD mares versus 7 of 7 control mares. Placement of iUPODs was associated with extended luteal phases and variable accumulations of intra-uterine fluid. Bacterial culture results suggested that the mild endometritis associated with iUPODs was sterile in six of seven mares. Short-term placement of iUPODs had no detrimental effects on endometrial architecture. Mean serum cortisol concentrations were significantly lower in iUPOD mares than control mares. CONCLUSION iUPODs represent a promising means of fertility control in the mare.
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Affiliation(s)
- C J Joonè
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
| | - C M Gradil
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - J A Picard
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
| | - J D Taylor
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
| | - D de Tonnerre
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
| | - J Cavalieri
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
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Joonè CJ, Schulman ML, Fosgate GT, Claes ANJ, Gupta SK, Botha AE, Human A, Bertschinger HJ. Serum anti-Müllerian hormone dynamics in mares following immunocontraception with anti-zona pellucida or -GnRH vaccines. Theriogenology 2017; 106:214-220. [PMID: 29096268 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2017.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2017] [Accepted: 10/03/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Circulating anti-Müllerian hormone concentration (AMH) is positively correlated to the number of small growing follicles in the mare and may reflect ovarian function. Dynamics of AMH during immunocontraception have not previously been investigated. This study aimed to compare serum AMH in mares following treatment with native porcine zona pellucida (pZP), recombinant pZP3 and pZP4 (reZP) or gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) vaccines, and saline-treated controls. Stored sera collected during two previous studies examining ovarian activity in mares during zona pellucida (ZP) or GnRH immunocontraception were analysed for serum AMH. Data were compared among treatment groups using mixed-effects linear regression and one-way ANOVA with post hoc testing. Correlations between AMH and previously reported clinical variables were estimated using Spearman's rho. Mares immunized against GnRH showed variable but detectable AMH throughout successive breeding and non-breeding seasons that were not significantly different to unvaccinated control mares. Mares treated with pZP demonstrated marked, reversible suppression of AMH. Mares immunized using reZP showed an intermediate effect. In the ZP study, AMH was positively correlated to serum progesterone concentrations, mean ovarian volumes and antral follicle counts, whereas no correlations between AMH and serum progesterone concentrations, mean ovarian volumes, or the presence of one or more follicles ≥20 mm in diameter were detected in the GnRH study. In conclusion, marked suppression of AMH during pZP immunocontraception, but not during GnRH immunocontraception, suggested enhanced suppression of ovarian follicular development and, or follicular function during pZP immunocontraception. Serum AMH concentrations may provide a novel tool for the assessment of ovarian function during ZP-based immunocontraception.
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Affiliation(s)
- C J Joonè
- Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa.
| | - M L Schulman
- Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa
| | - G T Fosgate
- Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa
| | - A N J Claes
- Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - S K Gupta
- Reproductive Cell Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, India
| | - A E Botha
- Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa
| | - A Human
- Veterinary Population Management Laboratory, Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa
| | - H J Bertschinger
- Veterinary Population Management Laboratory, Department of Production Animal Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa
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Joonè CJ, De Cramer KGM, Nöthling JO. The first case of genetically confirmed monozygotic twinning in the dog. Reprod Domest Anim 2016; 51:835-9. [DOI: 10.1111/rda.12746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2016] [Accepted: 07/03/2016] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- CJ Joonè
- Department of Production Animal Studies; Faculty of Veterinary Science; University of Pretoria; Pretoria South Africa
- Division of Tropical Health and Medicine; College of Public Health; Medical and Veterinary Sciences; James Cook University; Townsville Australia
| | - KGM De Cramer
- Rant en Dal Animal Hospital; Mogale City South Africa
| | - JO Nöthling
- Department of Production Animal Studies; Faculty of Veterinary Science; University of Pretoria; Pretoria South Africa
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Joonè CJ, Bertschinger HJ, Gupta SK, Fosgate GT, Arukha AP, Minhas V, Dieterman E, Schulman ML. Ovarian function and pregnancy outcome in pony mares following immunocontraception with native and recombinant porcine zona pellucida vaccines. Equine Vet J 2016; 49:189-195. [DOI: 10.1111/evj.12557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2015] [Accepted: 12/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- C. J. Joonè
- Section of Reproduction Department of Production Animal Studies Faculty of Veterinary Science University of Pretoria Onderstepoort South Africa
| | - H. J. Bertschinger
- Section of Reproduction Department of Production Animal Studies Faculty of Veterinary Science University of Pretoria Onderstepoort South Africa
| | - S. K. Gupta
- Reproductive Cell Biology Laboratory National Institute of Immunology New Delhi India
| | - G. T. Fosgate
- Department of Production Animal Studies Faculty of Veterinary Science University of Pretoria Onderstepoort South Africa
| | - A. P. Arukha
- Reproductive Cell Biology Laboratory National Institute of Immunology New Delhi India
| | - V. Minhas
- Reproductive Cell Biology Laboratory National Institute of Immunology New Delhi India
| | | | - M. L. Schulman
- Section of Reproduction Department of Production Animal Studies Faculty of Veterinary Science University of Pretoria Onderstepoort South Africa
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