COMPARISON OF A RAPID TEST WITH bPAG ELISA IN PREGNANCY DIAGNOSIS IN COWS

Early pregnancy detection is vital for properly managing livestock farms by re-inseminating nonpregnant females and minimizing the calving intervals. The present investigation was executed to compare a rapid test (Dairy Cow Pregnancy Test from Span Biotech Ltd. Shenzhen, China) with a commercial bPAG ELISA test (IDEXX®) for pregnancy diagnosis in non-descriptive cows. The study also aimed to elucidate if the rapid test could be an alternative method to ELISA in the field. Blood and urine samples were collected from 43 cows to measure the concentrations of bovine pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (bPAGs) in the blood samples and detect progesterone via the rapid test in the urine samples. Examining the genital tracts was achieved after slaughtering the cows to determine the uterus’ state, used as the reference standard for both tests. The results showed that the bPAG ELISA test was more accurate in pregnancy detection than the rapid test. However, there were no statistically significant differences (P > 0.05) between both methods’ results. We conclude that the rapid test can be a suitable alternative method to the bPAG ELISA test for diagnosing pregnancy in cows in field conditions.

Using commercial enzyme immunoassay for measuring pregnancy-associated glycoproteins to diagnose pregnancy in dairy cows under field conditions in Algeria

The purpose of the present work was to study effectiveness for early pregnancy diagnosis in cattle of the new enzyme immunoassay (EIA) sandwich kit commercially available based on the measurement of pregnancy-associated glycoproteins (PAGs). 120 Holstein-Friesian cattle of mixed age and parity were comprised from different dairy herds. The pregnant females (n = 68) were diagnosed by ultrasonography at day 35-40 after artificial insemination and confirmed by transrectal exploration at 2-3 months after AI. The non-pregnant females (n = 52) were housed in the absence of males during the experimental period. Blood samples were collected from coccygeal vessels of females into EDTA tubes. The serum was obtained by centrifugation and the serum was stored at - 20 C until assay. The PAG concentrations in pregnant and non-pregnant females were determined in serum by EIA kit. The reproducibility inter- and intra-assay of the PAG-EIA is satisfactory (2.78 and 13.19 %, respectively). The accuracy ( 94.8 %) and the test of parallelism were largely acceptable. No cross-reaction was observed with the different hormones tested at different dilutions. PAG-EIA system gave 100 % sensitivity and negative predictive values. Whereas, specificity and positive predictive value were 91.93 and 71.15 %, respectively. The accuracy of pregnancy diagnosis by PAG-EIA was 87.5 %. In conclusion, the present study shows clearly that the EIA kit can be used to measure PAG in serum cows for the detection of gestation in Algeria. Therefore, this alternative technique could be recommended to replace the radioactive methods in immunoassays to improve the reproductive performances and an efficient tool for reproductive management of dairy cattle.

Cervical Hydatidiform Moles Pregnancy: Diagnosis and Treatment

Cervical partial hydatidiform mole is a rare condition and difficult to diagnose. A 39-year-old Balinese woman from Sanglah General Hospital, Bali, Indonesia complained vaginal bleeding with abdominal pain. The patient was diagnosed with a partial hydatidiform mole based on physical examination, ultrasound, beta HCG levels and pathology examinations. Mass evacuation surgery followed by arterial ligation to stop the bleeding and periodically examination of beta HCG levels was carried out until the 14th week after the procedure. Beta HCG decreased gradually to normal level and indicate no risk of trophoblastic malignancy. Establishing the early diagnosis significantly affects the outcome of patient. Keywords: partial cervical hydatidiform mole, blighted ovum, pregnancy, diagnosis, therapy.

Appraisal of the management practices of goat farmers in selected districts of the KwaZulu-Natal province: can the extensionist play a role to improve?

The study was conducted to assess management practices by goat farmers in uMgungundlovu of the KwaZulu-Natal province. A total of 70 farmers were interviewed using structured questionnaires. A considerable number of respondents had low-level education (40%) n=28. Management activities performed by respondents included control of internal and external parasites, which was done by 94% and 96%, respectively. The most vaccinated for diseases were Pulpy kidney (61.54%) and Pasteurella (51.92%). Fifty-five respondents (78.57%) grazed their animals on the veld, while an insubstantial percentage of respondents had cultivated pastures (15.71%) n=11. Respondents provided winter and summer supplementary feed (46%) and supplementary lick (83%). A total of 17 farmers (24.29%) had a specific breeding season. Breeding management activities were done by farmers, and 5.71% of respondents tested bucks for fertility, while 18.57% provided flush feeding, and 11.43% performed pregnancy diagnosis. Most farmers who applied sound management practices reported elevated production levels.

PSXII-21 Pregnancy associated glycoproteins for pregnancy diagnosis on day 25 of gestation

The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of plasma concentrations of pregnancy associated glycoproteins (PAG) for pregnancy diagnosis in beef cows on day 25 of gestation. Additionally, differences in circulating concentrations of PAG among cows that experienced late embryonic/early fetal mortality (LEM) were evaluated. Beef cows (n = 214) were exposed to the 7-d CO-Synch + CIDR protocol followed by fixed-time artificial insemination (day 0). Blood samples were collected on days 25 and 29 to determine circulating concentrations of PAG and ultrasonography on day 29 was used as the gold-standard method for pregnancy diagnosis. On days 25 and 29, PAG concentrations were greater (P < 0.001) in pregnant compared with non-pregnant cows. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predicted value (PPV), negative predicted value (NPV), and accuracy on day 25 were 87, 80, 83, 84, and 83%, respectively. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy for PAG on day 29 were 99, 94, 96, 97, and 99%, respectively. Pairwise comparison of receiver operating characteristics curve analysis indicated greater area under the curve for PAG on day 29 compared with day 25 (P < 0.001). There were no differences in plasma concentrations of PAG on day 25 among cows that experienced LEM compared to cows that maintained pregnancy (P = 0.46). Concentrations of PAG on day 29 were reduced (P = 0.03) in cows that experienced LEM compared with cows that maintained pregnancy, and were not different between LEM and non-pregnant cows (P = 0.12). In summary, cows that experienced LEM had decreased plasma concentrations of PAG compared with cows that maintained pregnancy. The PAG assay utilized in this study yielded accurate pregnancy diagnosis results on day 29 of gestation: however, the presence of false negative results (NPV = 84%) limits its use on day 25 of gestation.

238 Luteal Color Doppler Ultrasonography for Early Pregnancy Diagnosis in Postpartum Bos Taurus Beef Cows

The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of corpus luteum (CL) color doppler ultrasonography (CD) for early pregnancy diagnosis in Bos taurus beef cows and evaluate differences in CL blood perfusion among cows that experience late embryonic/early fetal mortality (LEM). Postpartum Bos taurus beef cows (n = 214) from three locations were exposed to a 7-d CO-Synch + CIDR protocol followed by fixed-time artificial insemination (day 0). On days 20 and 22, B-mode and CD ultrasonography were performed to evaluate CL morphometries and blood perfusion, respectively. Cows were considered non-pregnant when CL area was < 20 mm2 or estimated blood perfusion was ≤ 25%. Conventional ultrasonography on day 29 was utilized as the gold standard method. Pregnant cows had greater CL diameter, CL area, and CL volume when compared to non-pregnant cows on day 20 and 22 (P < 0.001; Table 1). Additionally, percentage of central, peripheral, and total luteal blood perfusion, as well as the respective blood perfusion scores were greater (P < 0.001) in pregnant compared with non-pregnant cows on both day 20 and 22. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predicted value (PPV), negative predicted value (NPV), and accuracy for the CD on day 20 were 100, 74, 81, 100, and 88%, respectively. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy for CD on day 22 were 100, 86, 89, 100, and 93%, respectively. Pairwise comparison of receiver operating characteristics curve analysis indicated no differences between CD on days 20 and 22 (P = 0.12). No differences in luteal blood perfusion were observed on day 20 or 22 among cows that maintained pregnancies compared with LEM cows (P ≥ 0.27). In conclusion, CD successfully detected most non-pregnant cows (81 and 89% on day 20 and 22, respectively) and false negative results were absent (NPV = 100%).

279 ReBreed21, a Rapid Reinsemination Program: Fertility in Bos Indicus Cattle of Different Parities

This study evaluated efficiency of a reinsemination program allowing timed AI (TAI) every 21 days (ReBreed21; RB21) vs. a traditional Resynch program in Nellore females (n = 2,085) of different parities. First TAI followed estradiol (E2)/progesterone (P4)-based synchronization, and was considered d0. For RB21 (n= 1,357), cows received P4 insert on D12. On D19, P4 was removed, followed by treatment with equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) and 0.6 mg E2 Cypionate (RB21+EC, n = 60) or nothing (RB21, n=687). On D21, Doppler ultrasound was used to determine CL blood flow [< 25%=nonpregnant (NP)] and NP cows received TAI immediately together with 25µg licerelin acetate (GnRH). A second RB21 program using the same groups was done in cows that received TAI on D21 to allow a third potential TAI on D42. Pregnancy diagnosis was performed on D33 after each TAI. Cows designated pregnant on D21 but NP on D33, were termed False-Positive (FP). On D33, all control (n = 728) designated NP and FP cows were resynchronized with P4+E2 protocol for the second TAI at D42. Data were analyzed with SAS and shown in Table 1. For all cows, there were no differences in the three groups (Control, RB21, RB21+EC) for pregnancy/AI (P/AI). In nulliparous heifers, cumulative pregnancies were greater for both RB21 groups compared to Controls at D21 or D42 of the breeding season. Primiparous cows had greater cumulative pregnancies at D21 but not D42. Primiparous cows at second TAI had lower P/AI in RB21 (34.2%) vs. Control (51.7%); however, RB21-EC (55.8%) was similar to Control. No other parities had differences between RB21 and RB21+EC. Multiparous cows had high fertility at first TAI [69.3% (418/603)] and no differences between groups in cumulative pregnancies (P = 0.23). Thus, ReBreed21 program increases the reproductive efficiency in Nulliparous and Primiparous but not Multiparous Bos Indicus cattle. Adding EC to RB21 program only improves P/AI in Primiparous cows.