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An investigation was carried out in the “Hacienda Manantiales del Rocío S.A.”, province of Manabí, Ecuador, aimed at evaluating the response of cows of the Girolando breed to the administration of equine chorionic hormone (eCG) after artificial insemination at fixed time (AIFT). A control treatment without application of the hormone was compared against a treatment with administration of 400 IU of eCG 20, 30 and 40 days after the AIFT (dd AIFT). The same insemination protocol was used for both groups of animals. A completely randomized experimental design was used. Each group had 29 animals. The experimental units consisted of a Girolando cow. The pregnancy percentage was determined by ultrasound analysis in three different periods (30, 40 and 50 da IATF). Embryonic losses were quantified by the difference between the evaluated periods. Student’s t test was used to realize comparisons between treatments. The results showed that the application of the eCG hormone after artificial insemination did not have a significant impact on the pregnancy rate or on the losses due to embryonic death in Girolando cows., Se realizó una investigación en la “Hacienda Manantiales del Rocío S.A.”, provincia de Manabí, Ecuador, dirigida a evaluar la respuesta de vacas de la raza Girolando a la administración de la hormona coriónica equina (eCG) posterior a la inseminación artificial a tiempo fijo (IATF). Se comparó un tratamiento testigo sin aplicación de la hormona contra un tratamiento con administración de 400 UI de eCG 20, 30 y 40 días después de la IATF (dd IATF). Se utilizó el mismo protocolo de inseminación para ambos grupos de animales. Se utilizó un diseño experimental completamente aleatorizado. Cada grupo contó con 29 animales. Las unidades experimentales estuvieron constituidas por una vaca Girolando. Se determinó el porcentaje de preñez por medio de análisis ecográfico en tres periodos distintos (30, 40 y 50 dd IATF). Las pérdidas embrionarias se cuantificaron por diferencia entre los periodos evaluados. Se utilizó la prueba de t Student para realizar comparaciones entre tratamientos. Los resultados evidenciaron que la aplicación de la hormona eCG posterior a la inseminación artificial no tuvo un impacto significativo sobre el porcentaje de preñez ni sobre las pérdidas por muerte embrionaria en las vacas de la raza Girolando.

An investigation was carried out in the “Hacienda Manantiales del Rocío S.A.”, province of Manabí, Ecuador, aimed at evaluating the response of cows of the Girolando breed to the administration of equine chorionic hormone (eCG) after artificial insemination at fixed time (AIFT). A control treatment without application of the hormone was compared against a treatment with administration of 400 IU of eCG 20, 30 and 40 days after the AIFT (dd AIFT). The same insemination protocol was used for both groups of animals. A completely randomized experimental design was used. Each group had 29 animals. The experimental units consisted of a Girolando cow. The pregnancy percentage was determined by ultrasound analysis in three different periods (30, 40 and 50 da IATF). Embryonic losses were quantified by the difference between the evaluated periods. Student’s t test was used to realize comparisons between treatments. The results showed that the application of the eCG hormone after artificial insemination did not have a significant impact on the pregnancy rate or on the losses due to embryonic death in Girolando cows., Se realizó una investigación en la “Hacienda Manantiales del Rocío S.A.”, provincia de Manabí, Ecuador, dirigida a evaluar la respuesta de vacas de la raza Girolando a la administración de la hormona coriónica equina (eCG) posterior a la inseminación artificial a tiempo fijo (IATF). Se comparó un tratamiento testigo sin aplicación de la hormona contra un tratamiento con administración de 400 UI de eCG 20, 30 y 40 días después de la IATF (dd IATF). Se utilizó el mismo protocolo de inseminación para ambos grupos de animales. Se utilizó un diseño experimental completamente aleatorizado. Cada grupo contó con 29 animales. Las unidades experimentales estuvieron constituidas por una vaca Girolando. Se determinó el porcentaje de preñez por medio de análisis ecográfico en tres periodos distintos (30, 40 y 50 dd IATF). Las pérdidas embrionarias se cuantificaron por diferencia entre los periodos evaluados. Se utilizó la prueba de t Student para realizar comparaciones entre tratamientos. Los resultados evidenciaron que la aplicación de la hormona eCG posterior a la inseminación artificial no tuvo un impacto significativo sobre el porcentaje de preñez ni sobre las pérdidas por muerte embrionaria en las vacas de la raza Girolando.

Zika virus (ZIKV) is an arthropod-borne virus (arbovirus) and is primarily transmitted by Aedes species mosquitoes; however, ZIKV can also be sexually transmitted. During the initial epidemic and in places where ZIKV is now considered endemic, it is difficult to disentangle the risks and contributions of sexual versus vector-borne transmission to adverse pregnancy outcomes. To examine the potential impact of sexual transmission of ZIKV on pregnancy outcome, we challenged three rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) three times intravaginally with 1 x 107 PFU of a low passage, African lineage ZIKV isolate (ZIKV-DAK) in the first trimester (~30 days gestational age). Samples were collected from all animals initially on days 3 through 10 post challenge, followed by twice, and then once weekly sample collection; ultrasound examinations were performed every 3-4 days then weekly as pregnancies progressed. All three dams had ZIKV RNA detectable in plasma on day 3 post-ZIKV challenge. At approximately 45 days gestation (17-18 days post-challenge), two of the three dams were found with nonviable embryos by ultrasound. Viral RNA was detected in recovered tissues and at the maternal-fetal interface (MFI) in both cases. The remaining viable pregnancy proceeded to near term (~155 days gestational age) and ZIKV RNA was detected at the MFI but not in fetal tissues. These results suggest that sexual transmission of ZIKV may represent an underappreciated risk of pregnancy loss during early gestation.

Zika virus (ZIKV) is an arthropod-borne virus (arbovirus) and is primarily transmitted by Aedes species mosquitoes; however, ZIKV can also be sexually transmitted. During the initial epidemic and in places where ZIKV is now considered endemic, it is difficult to disentangle the risks and contributions of sexual versus vector-borne transmission to adverse pregnancy outcomes. To examine the potential impact of sexual transmission of ZIKV on pregnancy outcome, we challenged three rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) three times intravaginally with 1 x 107 PFU of a low passage, African lineage ZIKV isolate (ZIKV-DAK) in the first trimester (~30 days gestational age). Samples were collected from all animals initially on days 3 through 10 post challenge, followed by twice, and then once weekly sample collection; ultrasound examinations were performed every 3-4 days then weekly as pregnancies progressed. All three dams had ZIKV RNA detectable in plasma on day 3 post-ZIKV challenge. At approximately 45 days gestation (17-18 days post-challenge), two of the three dams were found with nonviable embryos by ultrasound. Viral RNA was detected in recovered tissues and at the maternal-fetal interface (MFI) in both cases. The remaining viable pregnancy proceeded to near term (~155 days gestational age) and ZIKV RNA was detected at the MFI but not in fetal tissues. These results suggest that sexual transmission of ZIKV may represent an underappreciated risk of pregnancy loss during early gestation.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) concentrations in the uterus show two peaks on days 2-4 and 13-14 during the estrous cycle in fertile cows. Loss of the two peaks has been linked to reduced fertility in repeat breeder cows. This study aimed to examine the effect of seminal plasma (SP) on normalizing endometrial EGF concentrations and restoring fertility in repeat breeder cows with low EGF concentrations on day 3. In study 1, we examined the effect of the deposition sites (the vagina and uterus) of SP on the endometrial EGF concentrations in repeat breeder cows. SP infusion into the vagina, but not uterus, on the first day of the estrus cycle (day 0) normalized the endometrial EGF concentrations (>= 4.7 ng/g tissue weight) on day 3. In study 2, the effect of SP volume (0.5 and 10 ml of SP and 0.5 ml of SP diluted to 10 ml) on EGF concentrations was examined. All groups with SP infusion had increased EGF concentrations on day 3, and cows with 10 ml of SP and 0.5 ml of SP diluted to 10 ml showed the highest levels of EGF concentrations. In study 3, we examined the effect of SP infusion on fertility. SP infusion normalized two peaks of endometrial EGF concentrations in about 60% of repeat breeder cows and produced more pregnancies than the controls (44.4 vs. 19.4%). Therefore, we concluded that SP may contain an activity to normalize the EGF profile and restore fertility in repeat breeder cows with altered EGF profiles.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) concentrations in the uterus show two peaks on days 2-4 and 13-14 during the estrous cycle in fertile cows. Loss of the two peaks has been linked to reduced fertility in repeat breeder cows. This study aimed to examine the effect of seminal plasma (SP) on normalizing endometrial EGF concentrations and restoring fertility in repeat breeder cows with low EGF concentrations on day 3. In study 1, we examined the effect of the deposition sites (the vagina and uterus) of SP on the endometrial EGF concentrations in repeat breeder cows. SP infusion into the vagina, but not uterus, on the first day of the estrus cycle (day 0) normalized the endometrial EGF concentrations (>= 4.7 ng/g tissue weight) on day 3. In study 2, the effect of SP volume (0.5 and 10 ml of SP and 0.5 ml of SP diluted to 10 ml) on EGF concentrations was examined. All groups with SP infusion had increased EGF concentrations on day 3, and cows with 10 ml of SP and 0.5 ml of SP diluted to 10 ml showed the highest levels of EGF concentrations. In study 3, we examined the effect of SP infusion on fertility. SP infusion normalized two peaks of endometrial EGF concentrations in about 60% of repeat breeder cows and produced more pregnancies than the controls (44.4 vs. 19.4%). Therefore, we concluded that SP may contain an activity to normalize the EGF profile and restore fertility in repeat breeder cows with altered EGF profiles.

BACKGROUND: In vitro embryo production (IVEP) is increasingly popular but data assessing the outcome of transferred embryos are scarce.OBJECTIVES: To determine the likelihood of pregnancy and embryonic loss after transfer of frozen-thawed IVP embryos and identify factors influencing success.STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective clinical study.METHODS: Blastocysts (n = 261) were produced from immature oocytes of Warmblood mares (n = 116) by Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) and in vitro culture, and cryopreserved. Thawed IVP embryos were transferred into recipient mares on day 4, 5 or 6 after ovulation. The influence of donor mare (age, reproductive history), recipient mare (age, reproductive status, management; in-house versus outpatient, day post-ovulation), embryo (interval from ICSI to blastocyst formation) and management factors (season when Ovum Pick-Up was performed, year and method of transfer) on likelihood of pregnancy and embryonic loss was examined, and the developmental stage of the IVP embryo at the time of transfer was estimated.RESULTS: The percentage of mares pregnant 7-10, 23 and 37 days after transfer was 56% (147/261), 49% (129/261), and 48% (124/261), respectively. Development of IVP embryos after transfer equated to day 5 or 6 in vivo embryos. With the exception of year of transfer, none of the factors had an impact on the likelihood of pregnancy or embryonic loss. Nevertheless, the likelihood of pregnancy tended to be lower for IVP embryos from infertile mares or when embryos were transferred into recipient mares on day 6 after ovulation rather than on day 4 or 5. Finally, the diameter of the embryonic vesicle 7 days post transfer was lower for pregnancies that were lost compared to those that were maintained.MAIN LIMITATIONS: Small sample size in some of the donor and recipient mare categories.CONCLUSIONS: Cryopreserved IVP embryos should be transferred into recipient mares on day 4 or 5 after ovulation