Natural embryonic death in the plain viscacha Lagostomus maximus: are there previous anatomo-histological variations that would intervene in the differential survival of the implantations?

Sweden has since the start of the pandemic a COVID-19 mortality rate that is 4 to 10 times higher than in the other Nordic countries. Also, measured as age-standardized all-cause excess mortality in the first half of 2020 compared to previous years Sweden failed in comparison with the other Nordic countries, but only among the elderly. Sweden has large socioeconomic and ethnic inequalities in COVID-19 mortality. Geographical, ethnic, and socioeconomic inequalities in mortality can be due to differential exposure to the virus, differential immunity, and differential survival. Most of the country differences are due to differential exposure, but the socioeconomic disparities are mainly driven by differential survival due to an unequal burden of comorbidity. Sweden suffered from an unfortunate timing of tourists returning from virus hotspots in the Alps and Sweden's government response came later and was much more limited than elsewhere. The government had an explicit priority to protect the elderly in nursing and care homes but failed to do so. The staff in elderly care are less qualified and have harder working conditions in Sweden, and they lacked adequate care for the clients. Sweden has in recent years diverged from the Scandinavian welfare model by strong commercialization of primary care and elderly care.

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Two Novel Cases of Autosomal Translocations in the Horse: Warmblood Family Segregating t(4;30) and a Cloned Arabian with a de novo t(12;25)

Cytogenetic and Genome Research ◽

10.1159/000512206 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 160 (11-12) ◽

pp. 688-697

Author(s):

Sharmila Ghosh ◽

Candice F. Carden ◽

Rytis Juras ◽

Mayra N. Mendoza ◽

Matthew J. Jevit ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer ◽

Nuclear Transfer ◽

Congenital Abnormalities ◽

Assisted Reproductive Technologies ◽

De Novo ◽

Reproductive Technologies ◽

Balanced Translocation ◽

Translocation Breakpoints ◽

Normal Offspring ◽

Embryonic Death

We report 2 novel autosomal translocations in the horse. In Case 1, a breeding stallion with a balanced t(4p;30) had produced normal foals and those with congenital abnormalities. Of his 9 phenotypically normal offspring, 4 had normal karyotypes, 4 had balanced t(4p;30), and 1 carried an unbalanced translocation with tertiary trisomy of 4p. We argue that unbalanced forms of t(4p;30) are more tolerated and result in viable congenital abnormalities, without causing embryonic death like all other known equine autosomal translocations. In Case 2, two stallions produced by somatic cell nuclear transfer from the same donor were karyotyped because of fertility issues. A balanced translocation t(12q;25) was found in one, but not in the other clone. The findings underscore the importance of routine cytogenetic screening of breeding animals and animals produced by assisted reproductive technologies. These cases will contribute to molecular studies of translocation breakpoints and their genetic consequences in the horse.

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Overfeeding Extends the Period of Annual Cyclicity but Increases the Risk of Early Embryonic Death in Shetland Pony Mares

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11020361 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 361

Author(s):

Nicky M. M. D’Fonseca ◽

Charlotte M. E. Gibson ◽

Iris Hummel ◽

David A. van Doorn ◽

Ellen Roelfsema ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Embryo Transfer ◽

Reproductive Activity ◽

High Energy ◽

Morphometric Parameters ◽

Net Energy ◽

Conceptus Development ◽

And Control ◽

Annual Duration ◽

Embryonic Death

Obesity has been associated with altered reproductive activity in mares, and may negatively affect fertility. To examine the influence of long-term high-energy (HE) feeding on fertility, Shetland pony mares were fed a diet containing 200% of net energy (NE) requirements during a three-year study. The incidence of hemorrhagic anovulatory follicles (HAF) and annual duration of cyclicity were compared to those in control mares receiving a maintenance diet. Day-7 embryos were flushed and transferred between donor and recipient mares from both groups; the resulting conceptuses were collected 21 days after transfer to assess conceptus development. HE mares became obese, and embryos recovered from HE mares were more likely to succumb to early embryonic death. The period of annual cyclicity was extended in HE compared to control mares in all years. The incidence of HAFs did not consistently differ between HE and control mares. No differences in embryo morphometric parameters were apparent. In conclusion, consuming a HE diet extended the duration of cyclicity, and appeared to increase the likelihood of embryos undergoing early embryonic death following embryo transfer.

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