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Turtles and tortoises (Order Testudines) are facing an extinction crisis, and ecosystems are at risk of collapsing with the loss of key roles they play. Hatching failure is a crucial barrier to population growth and persistence, but its causes are poorly understood, and it is unknown whether fertilization rates are declining as many populations become smaller and more female‐biased. Here, we show that very few studies of turtle and tortoise hatching success consider fertilization rates, and those that do use unreliable methods to determine egg fertility. We also show that studies of hatching success are biased towards marine turtles, as opposed to freshwater and terrestrial species, and wild rather than captive populations. To address the lack of reliable methods for assessing fertilization rates in turtles and tortoises, a microscopy‐based method (originally designed for bird eggs) for detecting perivitelline membrane (PVM) bound sperm and embryonic nuclei in the germinal disc of unhatched eggs has been developed and tested (in turtle and tortoise eggs). We demonstrate that this method provides unequivocal evidence of egg fertilization in five different turtle and tortoise species from both captive and wild populations, even after eggs have been left in wild nests for the full incubation period. This methodological approach represents a valuable tool for monitoring egg fertility and embryo survival rates in turtles and tortoises, with the potential to provide important insights into the underlying drivers of reproductive failure in threatened captive and wild populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In insects, aging produces deterioration in physiological and cellular functioning, affecting their reproductive potential. Anastrepha fraterculus and Ceratitis capitata are two fruit fly species where overwintering adults resume their reproductive activity in spring, giving old individuals the possibility of mating with young adults. Most age studies focus on male reproductive capacity; however, we lack information on how the interaction between the ages of both sexes can determine post‐mating processes. Here, we studied sex and age effects on (i) female fecundity and fertility, (ii) failure to leave viable offspring (reproductive failure), and (iii) female remating behavior. We found that young pairs of both species had higher fecundity, but young C. capitata males mated with old females had the lowest fecundity. This suggests that overwintering flies in this species will not substantially contribute to the next generation. We also found in C. capitata more prevalent reproductive failure in hetero‐age combinations, which could be due to age recognition between mates, resulting perhaps in differential ejaculate allocation. Copula duration was positively associated with female age, yet it was longer for older A. fraterculus females and shorter for C. capitata females. Female remating was lower when young females mated with old males in C. capitata. This would imply that males perceive young females of “good quality” and thus invest and transfer all the ejaculate possible to ensure the delay of renewal of female receptivity. Aging does not always cause a decline in reproductive potential, which may be important in species that overwinter as adults. Complex interactions between female physiology and male ejaculate senescence can impact postcopulatory behaviors that affect reproductive success for both sexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat stress due to climate warming can significantly affect the synthesis of sex hormones in male adolescents, which can impair the ability of the hypothalamus to secrete gonadotropin-releasing hormone on the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis, which leads to a decrease in luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone, which ultimately negatively affects spermatogenesis and testosterone synthesis. For optimal spermatogenesis, the testicular temperature should be 2–6 °C lower than body temperature. Heat stress directly affects the testes, damaging them and reducing testosterone synthesis. Additionally, chronic heat stress abnormally increases the level of aromatase in Leydig cells, which increases estradiol synthesis while decreasing testosterone, leading to an imbalance of sex hormones and spermatogenesis failure. Low levels of testosterone in male adolescents lead to delayed puberty and incomplete sexual maturation, negatively affect height growth and bone mineral density, and can lead to a decrease in lean body mass and an increase in fat mass. In order for male adolescents to acquire healthy reproductive capacity, it is recommended to provide sufficient nutrition and energy, avoid exposure to heat stress, and provide foods and supplements to prevent or repair testosterone reduction, germ cell damage, and sperm count reduction caused by heat stress so that they can enter a healthy adulthood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The endometrium holds a crucial role in reproduction by supporting blastocyst adhesion, cytotrophoblast invasion and fetal development. Among the various uterine disorders, endometritis, particularly chronic endometritis (CE), has gained attention due to its association with adverse reproductive outcomes (recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL), recurrent implantation failure (RIF), and infertility). The association between CE and adverse reproductive outcomes stresses the necessity for comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic strategies to optimize fertility outcomes and support individuals in their journey towards parenthood. Aim: To explore the relationship between CE and reproductive disorders. Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic review and meta-analysis using published data from 1990 to 2024 were carried out. Results: A population of 1,038 women was included. Regarding CE-infertility association, a positive correlation was found, with 19.46% CE rate in infertile women compared to 7.7% in controls (OR: 2.96, 95% CI 1.53-5.72, p 0.001). No significant association was observed between RIF and CE (OR: 1.10, 95% CI 0.26- 4.61, p 0.90), CE rates in both groups were relatively comparable, with 6.35% in women with RIF and 5.8% in controls. On the opposite, a strong association between CE and RPL was found, reporting a CE rate of 37.6% in RPL cases compared to 16.4% in controls (OR: 3.59, 95% CI 2.46-5.24, p < 0.00001). Conclusions: CE appears to be associated to infertility and RPL, while no significant association was noted in cases of RIF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lysosomal storage diseases are inherited or acquired disorders characterized by dysfunctional lysosomes that lead to intracytoplasmic accumulation of undegraded substrates, causing impaired cellular function and death. Many acquired lysosomal storage diseases are produced by toxic plants, which have indolizidine alkaloids, including swainsonine, that inhibits lysosomal α-mannosidase and Golgi α-mannosidase II. Swainsonine-induced nervous disease associated with various plants has been reported, including species of the genus Astragalus, Sida, Oxitropis, Swainsona, and Ipomoea. Two species of Astragalus (i.e. Astragalus garbancillo and Astragalus punae) have been found to cause neurologic disease in llamas. In addition, A. garbancillo was also associated with malformations in the offspring, and possibly abortions and neonatal mortality in llamas. The diagnosis of Astragalus spp. intoxication is established based on clinical signs, microscopic and ultrastructural findings, lectin histochemistry, abundance of these plants in the grazing area and determination of swainsonine in plant specimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Handling of large litters in hyperprolific pig farms can only be done using a nurse sow system or artificial rearing system. Nurse sows are a group of sows used to nurse surplus piglets via extended lactation length. Understanding the husbandry aspects of the nurse sow system is required for improving pig farming practices. Furthermore, removal patterns focusing on nurse sows have not been carried out, and therefore, this research provides information that contributes to how culling decisions could be made in herds utilizing nurse sows. A high removal of young parity nurse sows affects herd structure. After weaning, nurse sows are highly removed due to failure to return to cycle and conceive. Return to estrus is considered the most important indicator of reproductive soundness of any weaned sow and therefore a crucial component in managing non-productive days in herds. Extended lactation length for nurse sows of two weeks appears to be the most appropriate period in which the nurse sow experiences a lesser chance of removal due to failure to express heat. This study aimed to characterize and quantify reasons for the removal of nurse sows and identify the removal associated with their extended lactation length (ELL). A total of 100,756 removed nurse sows within a period of 2016–2022 from 53 sow herds in the Midwest USA were analyzed. Reproductive failure was the most common removal reason (χ2 = 8748.421, p < 0.001) affecting P1, P2, and P3 nurse sows. Failure to conceive and absence of estrus were the main causes of reproductive failure (χ2 = 352.480, p < 0.001) affecting P1 and P2 nurse sows and P1 and P5 nurse sows, respectively. When P2 and P6 nurse sows had an ELL of 0–7 d, they faced a high chance (χ2 = 13.312, p = 0.021) of removal due to conception failure and failure to return to heat, respectively. When P2 and P5 nurse sows had an ELL of 8–14 d, they were highly vulnerable (χ2 = 59.847, p < 0.001) to removal due to failure to conceive and showing heat, respectively. Finally, when ELL was at 15–21 days, P4 and P5 nurse sows were more likely (χ2 = 41.751, p < 0.001) to be removed due to failure to express heat, whereas at the same time, P2 and P3 nurse sows experienced the same removal threat due to failing to conceive. These results could help producers manage nurse sow systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV) is a very prevalent viral pathogen that can induce reproductive failure in infected sows. PRRSV infection can result in smaller litters, foetal death, late-term abortions and retarded growth of infected piglets. Not all sows respond equally to the infection partly due to genetic factors. In this study, we aimed to characterise the genetic variability of pig resilience to PRRSV infection by using a stability reproductive performance (SRP) index as a proxy of resilience. By comparing reproductive data from 183 sows, we selected 48 sows with extreme SRP values, measured as the difference in piglets lost at farrowings before and during a PRRSV outbreak. Short-read DNA fragments were sequenced from selected sows using an Illumina platform. The analysis of whole-genome sequencing information identified 16 genome regions associated with the SRP classification (cut-off P-value < 10−6). Functional evaluation of the positional candidates by gene-ontology identifiers and their participation in biological pathways were used to identify genes involved in virus entry and replication (vimentin, RAC1 and OAZ2) but also in immune responses from the host (IRF1, and IL4, IL5 and IL13). Importantly, genes related to chemokines, extracellular proteins and cell-to-cell junction integrity might contribute to placental microseparations, facilitating the trafficking of viral particles from sow to foetus that takes place during the pathogenesis of transplacental PRRSV infection. However, given the small number of animals in the study, these results shall need to be validated in larger populations.

BackgroundThe endometrium holds a crucial role in reproduction by supporting blastocyst adhesion, cytotrophoblast invasion and fetal development. Among the various uterine disorders, endometritis, particularly chronic endometritis (CE), has gained attention due to its association with adverse reproductive outcomes (recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL), recurrent implantation failure (RIF), and infertility). The association between CE and adverse reproductive outcomes stresses the necessity for comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic strategies to optimize fertility outcomes and support individuals in their journey towards parenthood.AimTo explore the relationship between CE and reproductive disorders.MethodsFollowing PRISMA guidelines, a systematic review and meta-analysis using published data from 1990 to 2024 were carried out.ResultsA population of 1,038 women was included. Regarding CE-infertility association, a positive correlation was found, with 19.46% CE rate in infertile women compared to 7.7% in controls (OR: 2.96, 95% CI 1.53-5.72, p 0.001). No significant association was observed between RIF and CE (OR: 1.10, 95% CI 0.26-4.61, p 0.90), CE rates in both groups were relatively comparable, with 6.35% in women with RIF and 5.8% in controls. On the opposite, a strong association between CE and RPL was found, reporting a CE rate of 37.6% in RPL cases compared to 16.4% in controls (OR: 3.59, 95% CI 2.46-5.24, p < 0.00001).ConclusionsCE appears to be associated to infertility and RPL, while no significant association was noted in cases of RIF.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/#recordDetails PROSPERO, identifier CRD42024541879.

The blastocyst nidation is the most crucial stage to a successful pregnancy, as the white cells work to promote a favorable endometrial microenvironment for this process. Intriguingly, this implantation window lasts, on average, 6 days in most regular women, and its quality is affected by many pathological conditions. Since the grounds of reproductive failure in healthy couples are still uncharted, studies have widely suggested a potential hostile role of the immune system in the equilibrium of the maternal–fetal interface. In recent years, natural killer cells have been the highlight as they represent the greatest lymphocyte in the uterus and have immune surveillance through cytotoxicity during the implantation window. This review explored the main techniques used for natural killer (NK) cell testing in the implantation window over the last 13 years on the PubMed® database. Of 2167 published articles potentially relevant for the review, only thirty-three were about cell evaluation in healthy women, met the inclusion criteria, and had their methodology critically analyzed. Here, we bring a summary from the study group and sample collection to evidence comments about their findings and correlations. Meanwhile, we also summarize the current relationship between NK cells and endometrial receptivity with reproductive failure to help enhance the possibilities for future research. In conclusion, our overview points out that restricted and unstandardized methods support the controversy between the NK population and unsuccessful embryo implantation, which is an obstacle to studying why healthy eggs do not thrive and finding a solution for one of the most controversial topics in human reproduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Birth is a fundamental event in the life of animals, including our own species. More reports of wild non-human primate births and stillbirths are thus needed to better understand the evolutionary pressures shaping parturition behaviors in our lineage. In diurnal non-human primates, births generally occur at night, when individuals are resting. Consequently, they are difficult to observe in the wild and most of the current knowledge regarding perinatal behaviors comes from rare daytime births. Information about stillbirths is even rarer and their proximate causes are generally unknown. Here, we present detailed observations of a daytime birth of a stillborn wild mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx). During this event, which lasted an entire day, we recorded the behaviors of the parturient female ad libitum, using video recordings and photos. The 5-year-old female was primiparous and of low dominance rank. The length of her pregnancy was shorter than usual and the partum phase was extremely long compared to other birth reports in non-human primates. The female disappeared shortly after this event and was assumed to have died. We discuss the possible causes of this stillbirth including the infant's presentation at birth and maternal inexperience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genomic imprinting is a specific mode of gene regulation which particularly accounts for the factors involved in development. Its disturbance affects the fetus, the course of pregnancy and even the health of the mother. In children, aberrant imprinting signatures are associated with imprinting disorders (ImpDis). These alterations also affect the function of the placenta, which has consequences for the course of the pregnancy. The molecular causes of ImpDis comprise changes at the DNA level and methylation disturbances (imprinting defects/ImpDefs), and there is an increasing number of reports of both pathogenic fetal and maternal DNA variants causing ImpDefs. These ImpDefs can be inherited, but prediction of the pregnancy complications caused is difficult, as they can cause miscarriages, aneuploidies, health issues for the mother and ImpDis in the child. Due to the complexity of imprinting regulation, each pregnancy or patient with suspected altered genomic imprinting requires a specific workup to identify the precise molecular cause and also careful clinical documentation. This review will cover the current knowledge on the molecular causes of aberrant imprinting signatures and illustrate the need to identify this basis as the prerequisite for personalized genetic and reproductive counselling of families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Akabane virus (AKAV) is known as a major teratogenic agent of ruminant fetuses. In this study, we investigated the relationship between porcine abnormal deliveries and AKAV by serology, pathology, and virology investigations using specimens from 16 stillborn fetuses delivered in southern Japan between 2013 and 2015. The major clinical manifestations in stillborn fetuses were hydranencephaly, arthrogryposis, spinal curvature, and both skeletal muscle and subcutaneous edema. Histologic examination of the specimens identified atrophy of skeletal muscle fibers accompanied by adipose replacement. Nonsuppurative encephalomyelitis and decreased neuronal density in the ventral horn of the spinal cord were shown in two separate fetuses, respectively. Neutralizing antibody titers to AKAV were detected in most of the tested fetuses (13/16). The AKAV sequences detected in the affected fetuses in 2013 and 2015 were highly identical and closely related to Japanese AKAV isolates which were isolated in 2013 and sorted into genogroup I of AKAV. Immunohistochemistry visualized AKAV antigens in the neuronal cells of the central nervous system of the fetuses. These findings indicate that AKAV was involved in the birth of abnormal piglets at the affected farm. The clinical manifestations and histopathological features in the stillborn fetuses were very similar to those in ruminant neonates affected by AKAV. To avoid misdiagnosis and to evaluate the precise impact of AKAV on pig reproduction, AKAV should be considered in differential diagnoses of reproductive failures in pigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Coxiella burnetii is an obligate intracellular bacterium that causes Q fever, a worldwide contagious and zoonotic disease. Q fever is primarily transmitted to humans by infected cattle, sheep, and goats. Ruminants do not always develop clinical signs, except for pregnant females, which can present reproductive failure such as abortions and stillbirths. Regardless of its worldwide distribution, in Mexico this is considered an exotic disease, although serological evidence of C. burnetii has been demonstrated and at least six confirmed human cases have been reported. Objective: To assess the presence of C. burnetii in cattle in Mexico. Methods: Genomic DNA was extracted from 153 vaginal swabs obtained from cattle dwelling in 12 Mexican states and analyzed by PCR. Results: The C. burnetii IS1111 insertion sequence was identified by endpoint PCR in 33.33% (51/153) of the vaginal swabs. We obtained two nucleotide sequences that confirmed the genetic material of C. burnetii. Conclusion: Our results constitute a first step to elucidate the current epidemiology of Q fever in our country, and they indicate that cattle may be a reservoir of C. burnetii. To the best of our knowledge, this report provides the first molecular proof that this pathogen exists among cattle in Mexico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Successful reproductive performance is key to farm competitiveness in the global marketplace. Porcine parvovirus 1 (PPV1) has been identified as a major cause of reproductive failure, and since 2001 new species of porcine parvoviruses, namely PPV2–7, have been identified, although their role is not yet fully understood yet. The present study aimed to investigate PPVs' presence in reproductive failure outbreaks occurring in 124 farms of northern Italy. Fetuses were collected from 338 sows between 2019 and 2021 and tested for PPVs by real-time PCR-based assays and for other viruses responsible for reproductive disease. At least one PPV species was detected in 59.7% (74/124) of the tested farms. In order, PPV1, PPV5, PPV6, PPV7 and PPV4 were the most frequently detected species, whereas fewer detections were registered for PPV2 and PPV3. Overall, the new PPV2–7 species were detected in 26.6% (90/338) of the cases, both alone or in co-infections: PCV-2 (7.1%, 24/338), PCV-3 (8.2%, 28/338), and PRRSV-1 (6.2%, 21/338) were frequently identified in association with PPVs. Single PPVs detections or co-infections with other agents commonly responsible for reproductive failure should encourage future studies investigating their biological, clinical, and epidemiological role, for a better preparedness for potential emerging challenges in intensive pig production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Heat waves, and an increased number of warm days and nights, have become more prevalent in major agricultural regions of the world. Although well adapted to semi-arid regions, cotton is vulnerable to high temperatures, particularly during flowering and boll development. To maintain lint yield potential without compromising its quality under high-temperature stress, it is essential to understand the effects of heat stress on various stages of plant growth and development, and associated tolerance mechanisms. Despite ongoing efforts to gather data on the effects of heat stress on cotton growth and development, there remains a critical gap in understanding the distinct influence of high temperatures during the day and night on cotton yield and quality. Also, identifying mechanisms and target traits that induce greater high day and night temperature tolerance is essential for breeding climate-resilient cotton for future uncertain climates. To bridge these knowledge gaps, we embarked on a rigorous and comprehensive review of published literature, delving into the impact of heat stress on cotton yields and the consequential losses in fiber quality. This review encompasses information on the effects of heat stress on growth, physiological, and biochemical responses, fertilization, cotton yield, and quality. Additionally, we discuss management options for minimizing heat stress-induced damage, and the benefits of integrating conventional and genomics-assisted breeding for developing heat-tolerant cotton cultivars. Finally, future research areas that need to be addressed to develop heat-resilient cotton are proposed.

Heat stress due to climate warming can significantly affect the synthesis of sex hormones in male adolescents, which can impair the ability of the hypothalamus to secrete gonadotropin-releasing hormone on the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis, which leads to a decrease in luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone, which ultimately negatively affects spermatogenesis and testosterone synthesis. For optimal spermatogenesis, the testicular temperature should be 2–6 °C lower than body temperature. Heat stress directly affects the testes, damaging them and reducing testosterone synthesis. Additionally, chronic heat stress abnormally increases the level of aromatase in Leydig cells, which increases estradiol synthesis while decreasing testosterone, leading to an imbalance of sex hormones and spermatogenesis failure. Low levels of testosterone in male adolescents lead to delayed puberty and incomplete sexual maturation, negatively affect height growth and bone mineral density, and can lead to a decrease in lean body mass and an increase in fat mass. In order for male adolescents to acquire healthy reproductive capacity, it is recommended to provide sufficient nutrition and energy, avoid exposure to heat stress, and provide foods and supplements to prevent or repair testosterone reduction, germ cell damage, and sperm count reduction caused by heat stress so that they can enter a healthy adulthood.

Reproductive failure is one of the main performance constraints in ruminant livestock. Transmissible agents such as Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum are commonly involved in the occurrence of abortion in ruminants, but little is known about the mechanisms involved. While in vivo models are optimal for the study of abortion pathogenesis, they have a high economic cost and come with ethical concerns. Unfortunately, alternative in vitro models fail to replicate the complex in vivo placental structure. To overcome the limitations of currently available models, we developed an ex vivo model based on the cultivation of fresh and cryopreserved sheep placental explants, enabling the biobanking of tissues. Reproducible and simple markers of tissue integrity (histology, RNA concentrations), viability (resazurin reduction), and functionality (synthesis of steroid hormones) were also investigated, allowing a clear quality assessment of the model. This work shows that, similar to fresh explants, tissues cryopreserved in ethylene glycol using slow freezing rates maintain not only their structure and function but also their receptivity to T. gondii and N. caninum infection. In addition, the findings demonstrate that explant lifespan is mainly limited by the culture method, with protocols requiring improvements to extend it beyond 2 days. These findings suggest that cryopreserved tissues can be exploited to study the initial host‒pathogen interactions taking place in the placenta, thus deepening the knowledge of the specific mechanisms that trigger reproductive failure in sheep. Importantly, this work paves the way for the development of similar models in related species and contributes to the reduction of experimental animal use in the future. • An ex vivo model of the ovine placenta using fresh and cryopreserved tissue was developed. • Fresh and thawed explants were found to behave similarly and might be useful for studying host–parasite interactions. • Several markers of explant integrity, viability, and functionality are defined and characterised. • The model presented has the potential to be applied to several reproductive pathogens and even to other related host species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porcine circovirus type 3 (PCV3) is a nonenveloped virus of the Circoviridae family. This virus has been identified in pigs of different ages and pigs with several clinical manifestations of the disease or even in apparently healthy pigs. While PCV3 was first reported in 2015, several retrospective studies have reported the virus before that year. The earliest report indicates that PCV3 has been circulated in swine farms since 1996. In this study, we evaluated the presence of PCV3 in samples collected in Mexico in 2008, 2015, 2020, and 2021. This study assessed PCV3 DNA by qPCR and antibodies against CAP protein by indirect ELISA. The results showed that PCV3 (DNA and anti-CAP antibodies) was detected in the samples collected from 2008 to 2021. The highest prevalence was in 2008 (100%), and the lowest was in 2015 (negative). Genetic analysis of ORF2 showed that the virus identified belonged to genotype a, as most of the viruses identified thus far. PCV3 was detected in samples from piglets with respiratory signs and growth retardation, sows with reproductive failure, or asymptomatic piglets and sows. Pigs with respiratory signs, growth retardation, or reproductive failure had a higher prevalence of antibodies and qPCR-positive samples. In conclusion, this study showed that PCV3 has been circulating in Mexico since 2008 and that PCV3 DNA and antibodies were more prevalent in samples from pigs with clinical manifestations of diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat waves, and an increased number of warm days and nights, have become more prevalent in major agricultural regions of the world. Although well adapted to semi-arid regions, cotton is vulnerable to high temperatures, particularly during flowering and boll development. To maintain lint yield potential without compromising its quality under high-temperature stress, it is essential to understand the effects of heat stress on various stages of plant growth and development, and associated tolerance mechanisms. Despite ongoing efforts to gather data on the effects of heat stress on cotton growth and development, there remains a critical gap in understanding the distinct influence of high temperatures during the day and night on cotton yield and quality. Also, identifying mechanisms and target traits that induce greater high day and night temperature tolerance is essential for breeding climate-resilient cotton for future uncertain climates. To bridge these knowledge gaps, we embarked on a rigorous and comprehensive review of published literature, delving into the impact of heat stress on cotton yields and the consequential losses in fiber quality. This review encompasses information on the effects of heat stress on growth, physiological, and biochemical responses, fertilization, cotton yield, and quality. Additionally, we discuss management options for minimizing heat stress-induced damage, and the benefits of integrating conventional and genomics-assisted breeding for developing heat-tolerant cotton cultivars. Finally, future research areas that need to be addressed to develop heat-resilient cotton are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to characterize and quantify reasons for the removal of nurse sows and identify the removal associated with their extended lactation length (ELL). A total of 100,756 removed nurse sows within a period of 2016–2022 from 53 sow herds in the Midwest USA were analyzed. Reproductive failure was the most common removal reason (χ2 = 8748.421, p < 0.001) affecting P1, P2, and P3 nurse sows. Failure to conceive and absence of estrus were the main causes of reproductive failure (χ2 = 352.480, p < 0.001) affecting P1 and P2 nurse sows and P1 and P5 nurse sows, respectively. When P2 and P6 nurse sows had an ELL of 0–7 d, they faced a high chance (χ2 = 13.312, p = 0.021) of removal due to conception failure and failure to return to heat, respectively. When P2 and P5 nurse sows had an ELL of 8–14 d, they were highly vulnerable (χ2 = 59.847, p < 0.001) to removal due to failure to conceive and showing heat, respectively. Finally, when ELL was at 15–21 days, P4 and P5 nurse sows were more likely (χ2 = 41.751, p < 0.001) to be removed due to failure to express heat, whereas at the same time, P2 and P3 nurse sows experienced the same removal threat due to failing to conceive. These results could help producers manage nurse sow systems.

Objectives: To assess the experience and knowledge of Polish women up to 50 years of age about fertility and its disorders. Material and methods: A self-composed questionnaire consisting of 44 questions, divided into six sections, was available in social media from January until February 2020. The answers to 13 single-choice questions were analyzed to assess the level of knowledge. Statistical analysis was performed with the use of Statistica 13.0, with p value < 0.05 considered significant. Results: A total of 3,321 correctly filled out questionnaires were obtained. The average result was 8.88 out of 13 single-choice questions regarding the basics of the menstrual cycle and infertility (median 9, standard deviation [SD] 2.21). As many as 65.2% of respondents did not know which days in the cycle were fertile days. The women who had been and/or were pregnant at the time of survey, more often answered better than those, who had never given birth. They had a better mean score of 13 single-choice questions compared to those who had never been pregnant (9.02 vs 8.61, p < 0.001). Respondents who obtained information about infertility from doctors in 86.97% knew that regular intercourse meant 2-3 times per week in comparison to 79.7% of those who were not educated by medical practitioners (p < 0.0001). 69.8% respondents from the first group knew that the test of ovarian reserve existed in comparison to 55.63% of women from the second group (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: The research has shown that the knowledge about fertility and its disorders is not satisfying among Polish women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Problem: The phenotypes and functions of B and CD4+ T‐helper cell subsets during chronic inflammation of the endometria remain largely unexplored. This study aimed to investigate the characteristics and functions of follicular helper T (Tfh) cells to understand the pathological mechanisms of chronic endometritis (CE). Method of study: Eighty patients who underwent hysteroscopic and histopathological examinations for CE were divided into three groups—those with positive results for hysteroscopy and CD138 staining (DP), negative results for hysteroscopy but positive CD138 staining (SP), and negative results for hysteroscopy and CD138 staining (DN). The phenotypes of B cells and CD4+ T‐cell subsets were analyzed using flow cytometry. Results: CD38+ and CD138+ cells were mainly expressed in the non‐leukocyte population of the endometria, and the endometrial CD19+CD138+ B cells were fewer than the CD3+CD138+ T cells. The percentage of Tfh cells increased with chronic inflammation in the endometria. Additionally, the elevated percentage of Tfh cells correlated with the number of miscarriages. Conclusions: CD4+ T cells, particularly Tfh cells, may be critical in chronic endometrial inflammation and affect its microenvironment, thereby regulating endometrial receptivity, compared to B cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genomic imprinting is a specific mode of gene regulation which particularly accounts for the factors involved in development. Its disturbance affects the fetus, the course of pregnancy and even the health of the mother. In children, aberrant imprinting signatures are associated with imprinting disorders (ImpDis). These alterations also affect the function of the placenta, which has consequences for the course of the pregnancy. The molecular causes of ImpDis comprise changes at the DNA level and methylation disturbances (imprinting defects/ImpDefs), and there is an increasing number of reports of both pathogenic fetal and maternal DNA variants causing ImpDefs. These ImpDefs can be inherited, but prediction of the pregnancy complications caused is difficult, as they can cause miscarriages, aneuploidies, health issues for the mother and ImpDis in the child. Due to the complexity of imprinting regulation, each pregnancy or patient with suspected altered genomic imprinting requires a specific workup to identify the precise molecular cause and also careful clinical documentation. This review will cover the current knowledge on the molecular causes of aberrant imprinting signatures and illustrate the need to identify this basis as the prerequisite for personalized genetic and reproductive counselling of families.

Successful reproductive performance is key to farm competitiveness in the global marketplace. Porcine parvovirus 1 (PPV1) has been identified as a major cause of reproductive failure, and since 2001 new species of porcine parvoviruses, namely PPV2–7, have been identified, although their role is not yet fully understood yet. The present study aimed to investigate PPVs’ presence in reproductive failure outbreaks occurring in 124 farms of northern Italy. Fetuses were collected from 338 sows between 2019 and 2021 and tested for PPVs by real-time PCR-based assays and for other viruses responsible for reproductive disease. At least one PPV species was detected in 59.7% (74/124) of the tested farms. In order, PPV1, PPV5, PPV6, PPV7 and PPV4 were the most frequently detected species, whereas fewer detections were registered for PPV2 and PPV3. Overall, the new PPV2–7 species were detected in 26.6% (90/338) of the cases, both alone or in co-infections: PCV-2 (7.1%, 24/338), PCV-3 (8.2%, 28/338), and PRRSV-1 (6.2%, 21/338) were frequently identified in association with PPVs. Single PPVs detections or co-infections with other agents commonly responsible for reproductive failure should encourage future studies investigating their biological, clinical, and epidemiological role, for a better preparedness for potential emerging challenges in intensive pig production.

Intravenous administration of immunoglobulins has been routinely used for more than 60 years in clinical practice, developed initially as replacement therapy in immunodeficiency disorders. Today, the use of intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIGs) is embedded in the modern algorithms for the management of a few diseases, while in most cases, their application is off-label and thus different from their registered therapeutic indications according to the summary of product characteristics. In this review, we present the state-of-the-art use of IVIGs in various autoimmune conditions and immune-mediated disorders associated with reproductive failure, as approved therapy, based on indications or off-label. IVIGs are often an alternative to other treatments, and the administration of IVIGs continues to expand as data accumulate. Additionally, new insights into the pathophysiology of immune-mediated disorders have been gained. Therefore, the need for immunomodulation has increased, where IVIG therapy represents an option for stimulating, inhibiting and regulating various immune processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A significant proportion of recurrent miscarriage, recurrent implantation failure and infertility are unexplained, and these conditions have been proposed to have an etiology of immunological dysfunction at the maternal-fetal interface. Uterine Natural Killer cells (uNK) comprise three subsets and are the most numerous immune cells found in the uterine mucosa at the time of implantation. They are thought to play an important role in successful pregnancy by regulation of extravillous trophoblast (EVT) invasion and spiral artery remodelling. Here, we examine the frequency, phenotype and function of uNK1-3 from the uterine mucosa of 16 women with unexplained reproductive failure compared to 11 controls with no reproductive problems, during the window of implantation. We report that KIR2DL1/S1 and LILRB1 expression is lower in the reproductive failure group for both uNK (total uNK, uNK 2 and 3) and pNK. We also show that degranulation activity is significantly reduced in total uNK, and that TNF-a production is lower in all uNK subsets in the reproductive failure group. Taken together, our findings suggest that reproductive failure is associated with global reduction in expression of uNK receptors important for interaction with HLA-C and HLA-G on EVT during early pregnancy, leading to reduced uNK activation. This is the first study to examine uNK subsets during the window of implantation in women with reproductive failure and will serve as a platform to focus on particular aspects of phenotype and function of uNK subsets in future studies. Further understanding of uNK dysregulation is important to establish potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets in the population of women with unexplained reproductive failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The decision of premature culling cows directly impacts the profitability of dairy farms. A comprehensive characterization of the primary causes of culling reasons would greatly improve both management and selection objectives in dairy cattle breeding programs. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the temporal frequencies of 34 culling reasons in Canadian Holstein cows. After data editing and quality control, records from 3,096,872 cows culled from 9,683 herds spread across Canada were used for the analyses covering the periods from 1996 to 2020. Reproductive issues were the main culling reason accounting for 23.02%, followed by milk production (20.82%), health (20.39%), conformation problems (13.69%), economic factors (13.10%), accidents (5.67%), age-related causes (1.67%), and workability (1.63%). Nearly fifty-eight percent of cows were culled after 47 months of age. The observed frequencies of culling due to economic factors were lower than expected from 1996 to 2014 and higher than expected between 2015 and 2020. Reproduction issues had the highest culling frequencies during fall (24.54%), winter (24.02%), and spring (22.51%), while health issues were the most frequent (22.51%) culling reason in the summer season. Health issues (25.50%) and milk production (27.71%) were the most frequent culling reasons in the provinces of Quebec and Ontario, respectively. Reproductive issues showed the highest frequency across climates based on the Köppen climate classification, except for Csb (Dry-summer subtropical or Mediterranean climate) and Bsk (Middle latitude steppe climate), which correspond to small regions in Canada, where production was the most frequent culling reason (29.42% and 21.56%, respectively). Reproductive and milk performance issues were the two main culling reasons in most ecozones, except in Boreal Shield and Atlantic Marine, where health issues had the highest frequencies (25.12 and 23.75%, respectively). These results will contribute to improving management practices and selective decisions to reduce involuntary culling of Holstein cows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uterine septum is the most common congenital anomaly of the uterus, accounting for 35% of all diagnosed malformations. Data on the effectiveness of restoring reproductive function in women with a septate uterus after hysteroscopic metroplasty are contradictory, there are no data on the comparison of reproductive results after removal and dissection of the septum using a bipolar hysteroresectoscope. The purpose of the study was to assess the effectiveness of reproductive function recovery after dissection and removal of the uterine septum using a bipolar hysteroresectoscope. Material and methods. 78 patients of group B with uterine septum, reproductive failure, bipolar hysteroscopic metroplasty were under observation. Among the examined patients, 39 suffered from miscarriage and 39 suffered from infertility. 37 women of the BI group underwent hysteroscopic bipolar dissection of the uterine septum; 41 women of the BII group underwent hysteroscopic bipolar resection of the septum. Results and their discussion. Within 2 years after metroplasty, pregnancy occurred in 86.49% of women in the BI group and in 100% of women in the BII group (p>0.05); the specific weight of miscarriages was 9.38% and 0.00%, respectively (p>0.05); childbirth - 58.88% and 70.97% (p>0.05); premature births – 17.65% and 6.45% (p>0.05); term deliveries - 38.24% and 64.52% (p0.05); the specific weight of miscarriages was 25.00% and 22.22%, respectively (p>0.05); childbirth - 75.00% and 77.78% (p>0.05); premature births – 12.50% and 11.00% (p>0.05); term deliveries - 62.50% and 66.67% (p>0.05). Analysis of recovery of reproductive function 2 years after surgery in women with initial miscarriage showed that 90.48% of women in the BI group became pregnant, 94.44% in the BII group (p>0.05); the specific weight of miscarriages was 31.58% and 11.76%, respectively (p>0.05); childbirth - 68.42% and 88.24% (p>0.05); premature births – 26.32% and 5.88% (p>0.05); term deliveries - 42.11% and 82.35% (p

Porcine circovirus type 3 (PCV3) is a nonenveloped virus of the Circoviridae family. This virus has been identified in pigs of different ages and pigs with several clinical manifestations of the disease or even in apparently healthy pigs. While PCV3 was first reported in 2015, several retrospective studies have reported the virus before that year. The earliest report indicates that PCV3 has been circulated in swine farms since 1996. In this study, we evaluated the presence of PCV3 in samples collected in Mexico in 2008, 2015, 2020, and 2021. This study assessed PCV3 DNA by qPCR and antibodies against CAP protein by indirect ELISA. The results showed that PCV3 (DNA and anti-CAP antibodies) was detected in the samples collected from 2008 to 2021. The highest prevalence was in 2008 (100%), and the lowest was in 2015 (negative). Genetic analysis of ORF2 showed that the virus identified belonged to genotype a, as most of the viruses identified thus far. PCV3 was detected in samples from piglets with respiratory signs and growth retardation, sows with reproductive failure, or asymptomatic piglets and sows. Pigs with respiratory signs, growth retardation, or reproductive failure had a higher prevalence of antibodies and qPCR-positive samples. In conclusion, this study showed that PCV3 has been circulating in Mexico since 2008 and that PCV3 DNA and antibodies were more prevalent in samples from pigs with clinical manifestations of diseases.

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Background and Aim: Various management practices may cause the occurrence of reproductive failure indicated by repeat breeding in beef cattle. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and the risk factors of repeat breeding in beef cattle in Sleman Regency, Indonesia. Materials and Methods: Observational and cross-sectional studies were used to determine the prevalence and the risk factors of repeat breeding. Sampling was conducted using a multistage cluster design. The sample size was determined using a sampling formula (n=4 PQ/L2). Questionnaire and interview data were evaluated descriptively. Chi-square analysis and odds ratio (OR) test were conducted to determine the association and association strength with a confidence level of 95%. Univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analysis through multivariate logistic regression test was done using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, version 21.0 software. Results: The results indicated that the prevalence of repeat breeding in beef cattle in the Sleman Regency was 30.4%. Multivariate analysis indicated that risk factors that significantly affected the repeat breeding were breeding experience (p=0.000; OR=3.378), knowledge of estrus cycle (p=0.000; OR=5.263), feed type (p=0.001; OR=6.061), feeding frequency (p=0.003; OR=2.77), shed hygiene (p=0.33; OR=2,381), and drainage system (p=0.000; OR=4,484). Conclusion: Various husbandry management significantly influence the incidence of repeat breeding in beef cattle in Sleman Regency with the type of feed, which was the highest risk factor. Hay should not be used as the main feed source since it might increase the incidence of repeat breeding. However, the other environmental factors such as season and presence of infection or parasite also need to be investigated further.

Abstract Background Leptospirosis is a widespread zoonotic disease caused by pathogenic Leptospira and is responsible for significant economic porcine livestock losses. Knowledge of Leptospira serogroups and their distributions is important for evaluation of the relevance of leptospirosis management measures, including use of the prophylactic vaccine that was recently made available in France. A retrospective study was conducted to determine the relationships between different circulating Leptospira serogroups. Pigs from across France presenting clinical signs suggestive of leptospirosis were tested with the microagglutination test (MAT) between 2011 and 2017. We used weighted averages to determine serogroup distributions according to MAT results and considering cross-reactions. Results A total of 19,395 pig sera, mostly from Brittany, were tested, and 22.7% were found to be positive for at least one Leptospira serogroup. Analysis of the 4,346 seropositive results for which the putative infective serogroup could be defined, revealed that two out of ten serogroups were much more frequent than the others: Australis (48.5%) and Icterohaemorrhagiae (38.2%). Other serogroups, including Autumnalis, Panama, Ballum, Tarassovi, Sejroe, Grippotyphosa, Bataviae, and Pomona, were less common. Conclusions Although diagnostic laboratory data cannot be extrapolated to infer the distribution of Leptospira serogroups at the nationwide scale in France, the analysis of such data can provide an overview of the relationship between circulating Leptospira serogroups in space and time. During the last decade, protection against the serogroups Australis and Icterohaemorrhagiae would have prevented most of the clinical porcine leptospirosis cases in the large number of farms that we studied. In the future, epidemiological information related to circulating Leptospira serogroups should be extracted from data with a standardized approach for use in nationwide or international surveillance and prophylactic strategy support.

Arsenic (As) is a poisonous metalloid that is toxic to both humans and animals. Drinking water contamination has been linked to the development of cancer (skin, lung, urinary bladder, and liver), as well as other disorders such as diabetes and cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, neurological, and developmental damage. According to epidemiological studies, As contributes to male infertility, sexual dysfunction, poor sperm quality, and developmental consequences such as low birth weight, spontaneous abortion, and small for gestational age (SGA). Arsenic exposure negatively affected male reproductive systems by lowering testicular and accessory organ weights, and sperm counts, increasing sperm abnormalities and causing apoptotic cell death in Leydig and Sertoli cells, which resulted in decreased testosterone synthesis. Furthermore, during male reproductive toxicity, several molecular signalling pathways, such as apoptosis, inflammation, and autophagy are involved. Phytonutrient intervention in arsenic-induced male reproductive toxicity in various species has received a lot of attention over the years. The current review provides an in-depth summary of the available literature on arsenic-induced male toxicity, as well as therapeutic approaches and future directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detection and precise genomic mapping of balanced chromosomal abnormalities in patients with impaired fertility or a clinical phenotype represent a challenge for current cytogenomics owing to difficulties with precise breakpoint localization in the regions enriched for DNA repeats and high genomic variation in such regions. Here, we present a comprehensive cytogenomic approach to breakpoint mapping in a rare paracentric inversion on 10q (in a patient with oligoasthenoteratozoospermia and necrozoospermia) that does not affect other phenotype traits. Multicolor banding, chromosomal microarray analysis, chromosome microdissection with reverse painting, and single-copy sequencing of the rearranged chromosome were performed to determine the length and position of the inverted region as well as to rule out a genetic imbalance at the breakpoints. As a result, a paracentric 19.251 Mbp inversion at 10q22.2q23.3 was described. The most probable location of the breakpoints was predicted using the hg38 assembly. The problems of genetic counseling associated with enrichment for repeats and high DNA variability of usual breakpoint regions were discussed. Possible approaches for cytogenomic assessment of couples with balanced chromosome rearrangements and problems like reproductive failures were considered and suggested as useful part of effective genetic counseling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porcine circovirus type 3 (PCV3) has been widely detected worldwide in healthy and sick pigs. Recently its association with clinical disease and reproductive failure has been proven through the detection of intralesional viral mRNA in affected pigs. This study aims to describe the occurrence of PCV3-associated reproductive failure (abortions) in sow herds in southern Brazil. Eleven fetuses from five different litters from two herds were analyzed. These herds reported an increase in the rate of late-gestation abortions, stillbirths, and the percentage of mummified piglets. At gross examination, six of the fetuses had large caudally rotated ears and one fetus was mummified. Microscopically, multisystemic vasculitis, lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia, myocarditis, and encephalitis were observed. These six fetuses with gross and histological lesions were positive in qPCR analysis for PCV3, and PCV3 transcription was shown through in situ hybridization (ISH-RNA) within the histologic lesions. Samples from all 11 fetuses tested negative in PCR exam for Porcine Circovirus type 1 and 2, Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome, Porcine Parvovirus, and Atypical Porcine Pestivirus. Furthermore, based on the ORF2 analysis, the PCV3a clade was identified. This is the first report of PCV3a-associated reproductive failure in pig herds in South America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leptospirosis, caused by pathogenic spirochetes of the genus Leptospira spp. , is a globally significant zoonotic disease that affects humans and animals. In cattle, leptospirosis is associated not only with overt clinical manifestations but also with reproductive diseases, including infertility. This study assesses the potential correlation between leptospirosis and infertility in Uruguayan beef cattle. A case-control study involved 31 beef herds with no prior history of Leptospira vaccination. In each herd, veterinarians identified 10 non-pregnant (cases) and 25 pregnant cows (controls) using ultrasound, and blood and urine samples were collected from each cow. Serological diagnosis was performed using the Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT), and quantitative PCR (qPCR) was used to assess Leptospira excretion. Additionally, antibodies against bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) and infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) were tested. The results demonstrated an association between seropositivity to the Sejroe serogroup (cut-off 1:200) and infertility in cattle (OR=1.31; p-value=0.06). Furthermore, the level of Leptospira excretion (qPCR) in urine was associated with increased infertility risk, with cows excreting over 100 copies per mL of urine having the highest odds of infertility (OR=2.34; p-value<0.01). This study suggests a potential association between leptospirosis and infertility in Uruguayan beef cattle, emphasizing the importance of both serological and molecular diagnostics for assessing reproductive health in cattle herds. Future research should explore the impact of Leptospira serogroups on other reproductive disorders in cattle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clinical challenges: It is not easy for a veterinarian to determine the cause of infertility in a queen. The simplest method is to start by investigating the most common causes and then progress by successive elimination to the less common causes. For example, mating problems are commonly responsible for reproductive failure, and owners should be particularly vigilant in checking that the mating is progressing satisfactorily. Frequently, a veterinarian may have to determine, among other things, if there is a uterine or hormonal disorder or if an infectious pathology may be involved. In the case of a queen that is not cycling, it is important to differentiate a lack of onset of puberty in a young queen from a lack of cyclicity in an adult queen. Aim: This review sets out a practical, step-by-step approach that veterinarians can follow, starting with the most common causes of infertility in queens and moving towards more rare or specific causes. Equipment and technical skills: Simple techniques such as vaginal smears are essential to determine if a queen that is ready to be mated is in full oestrus, if a queen is cycling or not and to diagnose inflammation of the genital tract. Veterinarians should be familiar with the peculiarities of the swabbing technique in cats, as well as the interpretation of feline vaginal cytology. Progesterone assays are useful on many occasions in the diagnosis pathway. A laboratory capable of performing karyotypes should ideally be available. Finally, it is important to be able to perform an ultrasound examination of the ovaries and uterus in a queen. Evidence base: Although it appears that infertility is a problem among purebred queens, there is a lack of knowledge in this area and too few published studies. Some causes of feline infertility remain poorly investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The majority of the world's seabirds show substantial population declines, but a detailed understanding of the phenomenon is lacking. A potentially important mechanism that has received momentum lately is nest predation. This study aimed to assess the population viability of a threatened population of the lesser black‐backed gull Larus fuscus fuscus under different scenarios for nest predation and environmental conditions. We merged results from statistical analyses of 16 years of empirical data with a Leslie model, emphasising the impact of predation at the nesting stage. In the model, we quantified the effect of multiple stressors on the viability of the lesser black‐backed gull according to the IUCN Red List's 'Vulnerable' criteria (30% reductions in population size over < 3 generations). First, the empirical analyses showed that the estimated apparent survival probability, which showed declining temporal trends, was on average 0.862 and 0.470 for adults and juveniles, respectively. The average clutch size in the absence and presence of nest predation was 2.836 and 0.935 eggs nest−1, whereas the average number of fledglings nest−1 was 0.452, respectively. Nest predation and chick production showed a concave‐up temporal trend, whereas clutch size showed no trend. Second, based on the predictive models, we documented multiple stressor effects: nest predation was the single‐most‐important stressor, but its adverse effect was severely amplified when environmental conditions were poor. When important nest predators were present, L. f. fuscus met the 'Vulnerable' criteria. Nonetheless, when nest predation was absent or low, the status of our population was following IUCN Red List's 'Least Concern' criteria (its official status). Nest predation played a vital role in limiting population growth – a finding that is likely to be relevant for several other seabirds in northern Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The declining African and Asian elephant populations emphasize the importance of a backup population. Successful reproduction in captivity plays a key role in maintaining such a genetically diverse ex situ population but is challenged by reproductive loss in the form of abortions and stillbirths. The elephants' biphasic prolactin pattern led us to predict a higher incidence of abortions during the time of reduced prolactin concentrations. Therefore, this study focuses on the identification of months during elephant gestation which are prone to loss of pregnancy. A metric was developed to identify the fetal age of aborted calves based on the fetal mass using a regression model. Data on idiopathic abortions in captive and wild elephants collected from zoos, tourist camps, semi-captive, and free-ranging populations since 1974 were analyzed, revealing a significantly higher prevalence of abortions during the 15th and 17th month of gestation. Additionally, the prevalence of stillbirths in the 22nd month of gestation between 2000 and 2023 was assessed. Although stillbirths showed a declining trend over time, the average prevalence between 2019 and 2023 was still 2.8%. Consequently, the 15th, 17th, and 22nd month of gestation were identified as stages prone to pregnancy loss. These findings underscore the necessity of researching risk factors and preventative measures for pregnancy loss in these 3 months, especially exploring a possible link with prolactin during the 15th and 17th month of gestation. The identification of stages prone to fetal loss is a key step towards enhancing elephant reproductive success and welfare., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Clinical observational studies have suggested hyperlipidemia may disturb embryo implantation through endometrium; however, the mechanism has been unclear. With its profound implications for reproductive health, the present study aims to investigate whether hyperlipidemia affects endometrial epithelial cell tight junctions for implantation failures. By constructing hyperlipidemia mice model, the number and distribution of embryo implantation status were investigated after both natural mating and in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to compare the ultrastructure of tight junctions in endometrial endothelial cells. Western blot and immunofluorescence were used to explore the expression and localization of tight junction proteins, such as Claudin (CDLN)3, CLDN4, occludin (OCLN), and zonula occludens-1 (ZO1). For women with reproductive failure, mid-luteal phase endometrial tissues were collected, and gene expression of tight junction proteins was investigated using RNA sequencing and qRT-PCR. In hyperlipidemic mice, the number of embryo implantation sites significantly decreased with uneven distribution after natural mating and IVF-ET. Disrupted tight junctions were found, characterized by a decreased number of tight junctions by TEM, downregulated expressions of CDLN4, OCLN, and ZO1, and an increased expression of CLDN3 by western blot. In hyperlipidemic women with reproductive failure, the dysregulated expression of CLDN3 and CLDN4 was also present in the luteal phase endometrium. In this study, evaluation of both animal models and infertile women in vivo demonstrated that hyperlipidemia reduced female fertility, accompanied by disruption of tight junction structures and dysregulation of CLDN3 and CLDN4 expression in the endothelial cells of luteal phase endometrium., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Introduction: The novel Porcine circovirus 3 (PCV-3) has been associated in the past years to different porcine diseases, including reproductive failure. The potential occurrence of PCV-3 in abortions from Swiss pig herds has not been investigated so far. Thus, we conducted a retrospective study on pig aborted cases submitted to our laboratory in the University of Bern during the last 10 years with the main aim of investigating the possible presence of PCV-3 in foetal and/or placental tissue. Twelve out of the 53 studied cases showed mild histopathological changes as previously described in PCV-3 positive cases. However, in none of the cases, PCV-3 genetic material could be detected in the examined formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues. In only one third of the cases, a cause for the abortion was found, which is similar to other studies. Our survey suggests that PCV-3 was not involved in the porcine abortion cases submitted over the last decade at our institution in Switzerland.

Endemic and epidemic outbreaks of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) are causing large economic losses in commercial pig production worldwide. Given the complexity of controlling this disease with vaccines or other biosecurity measures, the selection for pigs with a natural resilience to this infection has been proposed as an alternative approach. In this context, we previously reported a vaccine-based protocol to classify 6-week-old female piglets from one farm into resilient and susceptible phenotypes. Subsequent analysis showed that resilient sows had fewer lost piglets during a PRRSV epidemic. In the present study, we validated the results in four additional farms by showing a robust effect on the percentage of piglets lost (P<0.05). We were able to associate the resilient phenotype with a 2-4% reduction in piglet losses on sow farms in both endemic and endemic/epidemic situations. Also consistent with previous results, susceptible sows delivered on average, almost 0.5 more piglets born per parity (P<0.05). However, we show here that resilient sows have a longer stayability in the farm (+57 d; P<0.05) and +0.3 more successful parities (P<0.05), which balances the total number of piglets born and born alive in the full productive life of the sow between the two groups. Resilient sows thus contribute towards to a more sustainable production system, reducing sow replacement and piglet mortality. The validation of this protocol on four independent production farms paves the way for the study of the genetic variation underlying the resilient/susceptible classification, with a view to incorporating this information into selection programs in the future., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society of Animal Science. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact reprints@oup.com for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.permissions@oup.com.)

The Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV) is a very prevalent viral pathogen that can induce reproductive failure in infected sows. PRRSV infection can result in smaller litters, foetal death, late-term abortions and retarded growth of infected piglets. Not all sows respond equally to the infection partly due to genetic factors. In this study, we aimed to characterise the genetic variability of pig resilience to PRRSV infection by using a stability reproductive performance (SRP) index as a proxy of resilience. By comparing reproductive data from 183 sows, we selected 48 sows with extreme SRP values, measured as the difference in piglets lost at farrowings before and during a PRRSV outbreak. Short-read DNA fragments were sequenced from selected sows using an Illumina platform. The analysis of whole-genome sequencing information identified 16 genome regions associated with the SRP classification (cut-off P-value < 10 -6 ). Functional evaluation of the positional candidates by gene-ontology identifiers and their participation in biological pathways were used to identify genes involved in virus entry and replication (vimentin, RAC1 and OAZ2) but also in immune responses from the host (IRF1, and IL4, IL5 and IL13). Importantly, genes related to chemokines, extracellular proteins and cell-to-cell junction integrity might contribute to placental microseparations, facilitating the trafficking of viral particles from sow to foetus that takes place during the pathogenesis of transplacental PRRSV infection. However, given the small number of animals in the study, these results shall need to be validated in larger populations., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background & Objective: The glyphosate-based herbicide has a prominent role in the toxic mechanism in living systems. Previous studies have shown that vitamin E can have a protective effect on cells against oxidative damage. This study aimed to evaluate the protective effect of vitamin E against the toxic potential of glyphosate (Gly) in the reproductive system of female rats. Materials & Methods: In this experimental study, 30 female Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups (n=6), including control, glyphosate (50 mg/kg per day), glyphosate (500 mg/kg per day), glyphosate (50 mg/kg per day) + vitamin E (50 mg/kg per day), and glyphosate (500 mg/kg per day) + vitamin E (50 mg/kg per day). Glyphosate was administered orally, and vitamin E was administered by intraperitoneal injection. After 35 days, rats were euthanized, and embryo development, malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, and catalase (CAT) activity were examined. Moreover, the levels of estrogen and progesterone were measured in the serum. Results were analyzed by SPSS software using one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s post hoc test. Results: The glyphosate significantly decreased the percentages of fertilization, two-cell embryos, blastocysts, estrogen, and progesterone level as well as catalase activity and significantly increased MDA level in glyphosate-treated rats in comparison with controls (p 0.05). Conclusion: These results have shown that vitamin E can provide the antioxidant defense with potent preventive activity against glyphosate-induced reproductive toxicities.

Infections of pigs with porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) can lead to various clinical conditions including reproductive disorders (PCV2-RD). In general, a transplacental infection of fetuses leads to mummification and stillbirth. So far, PCV2-RD has mainly been described in specific-pathogen-free (SPF) herds or farms with a high proportion of gilts. From December 2018 to February 2019, a high abundance of mummified fetuses (15.5%) was observed in two farrowing groups in an Austrian piglet-producing farm. PCV2 DNA was detected using qPCR in organs of all six investigated fetuses (2.07 × 108–1.09 × 1012 PCV2) genome equivalents/g tissue and via in situ hybridisation in organs from five fetuses, while histologic lesions were not observed in a single fetal heart. All isolates were sequenced and identified as PCV2d. After the implementation of a regular vaccination of all sows against PCV2, the abundance of mummified fetuses dropped to 3.5% in May 2019. In contrast to previous reports about PCV2-RD, this farm was neither an SPF herd nor a start-up herd with a high proportion of gilts. The implementation of regular PCV2 vaccination helped to reduce the abundance of mummified fetuses substantially. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study used 56 aborted and stillborn fetuses from organized swine farms in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, southern states of India. All samples were screened by using a PCR assay that targets the NS1 gene for PPV. Furthermore, the PCR positive samples were subjected to amplification of the VP2 gene of PPV1 with designed primers and sequenced for further study. The PCR screening of 56 samples found that 14.3% (n = 8) were positive for PPV genome. According to VP2 gene–based PCR for PPV1, 897 bp specific amplicons were detected in all eight of the samples. Two of the eight positive samples (L17 and T5) were sequenced and annotated randomly. The BLAST analysis of contig sequence INDTNCHN-T5 revealed 100% sequence homology with Chinese PPV1genome, whereas sequence from INDTNCHN-L17 revealed 99.43% sequence homology with Spain, Chinese, and German. PPV1 sequences and both the sequences INDTNCHN-T5 and INDTNCHN-L17 were submitted to the GenBank under the accession numbers MW822566 and MW822567 respectively. A phylogenetic analysis of the sequences in this study revealed specific grouping along with PPV1 strains in cluster E. Amino acid analysis of both isolated sequences in addition to the reference sequence from PPV1 showed variations in position 215 (I to T) in both the isolates, variation at position 228 (Q to E) in T5 isolate and variations at position 59 (L to M) and 314 (K to E) in L17 isolate. This study represents the first report of PPV1 cluster E in Tamil Nadu, southern India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Leptospirosis is a widespread zoonotic disease caused by pathogenic Leptospira and is responsible for significant economic porcine livestock losses. Knowledge of Leptospira serogroups and their distributions is important for evaluation of the relevance of leptospirosis management measures, including use of the prophylactic vaccine that was recently made available in France. A retrospective study was conducted to determine the relationships between different circulating Leptospira serogroups. Pigs from across France presenting clinical signs suggestive of leptospirosis were tested with the microagglutination test (MAT) between 2011 and 2017. We used weighted averages to determine serogroup distributions according to MAT results and considering cross-reactions. Results: A total of 19,395 pig sera, mostly from Brittany, were tested, and 22.7% were found to be positive for at least one Leptospira serogroup. Analysis of the 4,346 seropositive results for which the putative infective serogroup could be defined, revealed that two out of ten serogroups were much more frequent than the others: Australis (48.5%) and Icterohaemorrhagiae (38.2%). Other serogroups, including Autumnalis, Panama, Ballum, Tarassovi, Sejroe, Grippotyphosa, Bataviae, and Pomona, were less common. Conclusions: Although diagnostic laboratory data cannot be extrapolated to infer the distribution of Leptospira serogroups at the nationwide scale in France, the analysis of such data can provide an overview of the relationship between circulating Leptospira serogroups in space and time. During the last decade, protection against the serogroups Australis and Icterohaemorrhagiae would have prevented most of the clinical porcine leptospirosis cases in the large number of farms that we studied. In the future, epidemiological information related to circulating Leptospira serogroups should be extracted from data with a standardized approach for use in nationwide or international surveillance and prophylactic strategy support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Various management practices may cause the occurrence of reproductive failure indicated by repeat breeding in beef cattle. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and the risk factors of repeat breeding in beef cattle in Sleman Regency, Indonesia. Materials and Methods: Observational and cross-sectional studies were used to determine the prevalence and the risk factors of repeat breeding. Sampling was conducted using a multistage cluster design. The sample size was determined using a sampling formula (n=4 PQ/L2). Questionnaire and interview data were evaluated descriptively. Chi-square analysis and odds ratio (OR) test were conducted to determine the association and association strength with a confidence level of 95%. Univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analysis through multivariate logistic regression test was done using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, version 21.0 software. Results: The results indicated that the prevalence of repeat breeding in beef cattle in the Sleman Regency was 30.4%. Multivariate analysis indicated that risk factors that significantly affected the repeat breeding were breeding experience (p=0.000; OR=3.378), knowledge of estrus cycle (p=0.000; OR=5.263), feed type (p=0.001; OR=6.061), feeding frequency (p=0.003; OR=2.77), shed hygiene (p=0.33; OR=2,381), and drainage system (p=0.000; OR=4,484). Conclusion: Various husbandry management significantly influence the incidence of repeat breeding in beef cattle in Sleman Regency with the type of feed, which was the highest risk factor. Hay should not be used as the main feed source since it might increase the incidence of repeat breeding. However, the other environmental factors such as season and presence of infection or parasite also need to be investigated further. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]