Prof. O. Szenci

1. Examination of the genital tract and the parturient patient and the foetus, and supervision of parturition and the main disorders at parturition in the sheep and goat Prof. O. Szenci

2. Reproductive tract

3. EUB: external uterine bifurcation

4. Uterine horn IcE: intercaruncular endometrium

5. Cervix Fornix vagina Cranial vagina

6. Examination of ovaries by rectal palpation ??? by ultrasonography by colour Doppler sonography ??? by laparoscopy ??? by measurement of plasma P4

7. Examination of theuterus • Rectal palpation ??? • Ultrasonography • Laparoscopy ??? • Additional diagnostic methods: • Uterine biopsy ??? • Bacteriology ??? • Citology ???

8. Ultrasonography • Pregnancy diagnosis • Uterine disorders • uterine inflammation • adhesions ??? • abscesses ??? • tumors ??? • fetal remnants

9. A. Transabdominal ultrasonography (3.5 or 5 MHz) • Accurate (40 to 90 after AI): • •Simple pregnancy diagnosis • • Determination of fetal numbers • Disadvantage • Shaving the ventral abdomen (some breeds)

10. B. Transrectal Ultrasonography (5MHz) Embryonic vesicle Days 17-19 after A1

11. Examination of the vagina • by vaginal speculum • by vaginoscope

12. Obstetricalexamination

13. The endocrine changes before and during parturition (sheep)

14. The endocrine changes before and during parturition (sheep) Release of PGF2

15. Premature induction of parturition • Indications: • fetomaternal disproportion is not common • lambing during daylight with skilled assistance • To reduce problems due to dystocia • To increase lamb survival rate

16. Premature induction of parturition • It is important to accurately known gestational age • It is not possible to shorten gestation length properly without increasing lamb mortality (the role of the surfactant system)

17. Premature induction of parturition • ACTH • Corticosteroids • Not too successful for induction • More often used for oestrus synchronisation: lambing in a relatively short period • Dexamethanose, flumethasone, betamethanose (im.): • within 5 days before expected parturition • normal parturition within 2 to 3 days

18. Premature induction of parturition • Epostane (inhibits the enzyme that is responsible for the catalysis of pregnenolon-progesterone) • Oestradiol benzoate: • Its use is prohibited in Europe

19. The endocrine changes before and during parturition in the goat

20. Premature induction of parturition (goat) • Successful induction is possible • PGF2a (2.5-5 mg) • and PG-analogues (cloprostenol, fenprostalene: 150-500 g) • ACTH • Corticosteroids (D 141.) • Dexamethasone 20-25 mg im.: parturition within 2 days • (Oestradiol benzoate: 25 mg, but prohibited!)

21. Care of the parturient ewe • second stage labour • completion within 1 h: 72% • the majority of ewes drop the placenta within 2 or 3 h after lambing • 95%: anterior presentation

22. Uterine involution • Rapid size and weight reduction between 3 and 10 days postpartum • Involution is completed by 20-25 days

23. Restoration of the endometrium • necrosis of the superficial layer of the caruncles: • undergoes autolysis by 4 days pp. • dark reddish, brown or black coloration of the lochial discharge

24. Restoration of the endometrium • necrosis of the whole superficial part of the caruncle: • occurring by Day 16 pp. • separation of the brown necrotic plague: completed • The necrotized particles are present within in the uterine cavity • re-epithalisation of the caruncles takes place by approx. D 28

25. Restoration of the endometrium • The quality of the lochia • initially: blood, fetal fluids, placental debris • later: contains sloughed caruncular tissue

26. Returns of cyclical activity • follicular growth is common • 2 days to 2 weeks pp. • ovulation is unusual • when it occurs: usually silent heat • inadequate release of LH and GnRH

27. Elimination of bacterial contamination • similar like in the cow • however: 1-14 days after lambing (n=10 ewes: no bacteria)

28. Bacteriological examination • 1. A. pyogenes • 2. Bacteroides spp • 3. F. necroforum • 4. E. coli • 5. Stertococcus • 6. Peptostreptococcus • 7. Others: Staph., Lacto, Proteus, Clostr)

29. Classification of ovine births • Anterior presentation, with head and both forelegs extended: 69,5% • one foreleg retained: 17.8% • both forelegs retained: 6.5% • head retained: 0.7% • breech presentation (hip flexion): 2.5%

30. General examination of the animal • special attention should be paid to the vagina • parts of a foetus may be protruding---- we may get information about the nature of dystocia

31. General examination of the animal • General condition should be described • if recumbent: • resting • exhausted • the importance of body temperature and pulse rate

32. General examination of the animal Conditions: • two clean buckets with water • table or bench of straw, sterile cloths • hot water, soap, disinfectant • restraining the animals • cleaning the external genitals and hands • the external genitals thoroughly washed (one bucket) • careful washing the hands (second bucket)

33. Vaginal examination • If the vagina is empty: • checking the cervix • not completely dilated + sticky mucus covers: • the second stage of parturition has not yet begun • allow more time

34. Vaginal examination • spirally arranged folds • uterine torsion

35. Vaginal examination • some parts of the foetus in the vagina • head • fore- or hindlegs • plantar surfaces of the claws: downwards—usually forelimbs (if position is dorsal) • checking the direction of the flexion of the joints on the legs • the joint immediately above the the fetlock flexes in the same direction: foreleg • if two limbs present: check if they belong to the same foetus

36. Vaginal examination • Some cases: repel the foetus in the uterus • to get information about the nature of displaced fetal parts

37. Vaginal examination • moisten foetal parts • fresh cases • profuse blood • recent injury • dry foetal parts • protracted case • dark, brown discharge: • very late case

38. Vaginal examination • Solution of abnormal presentations • depending on the operator’s ability to pass a hand through the pelvic bone into the uterus • possible in most of the ewes • impossible (deliver per vaginam may fail): • primiparous animals • smaller breeds

39. Vaginal examination • Relative foetal oversize • retropulsion of head or hips • gentle traction with obstetric rope

40. Vaginal examination • Abnormal posture of the limbs or head • retropulsion • reposition • lubrication • gentle traction

41. Vaginal examination • Abnormal posture of the limbs or head • If a lateral deviation of the head or the breech presentation cannot be reposited: foetotomy, or caesarean section

42. Vaginal examination • Special attention should be payed on the soft birth canal, not to cause laceration • acute infection • death • Prevention: • prophylactic vaccination • use of antibiotics

43. Dystocia • 94,5 anterior presentation • 3,6% posterior presentation

44. Dystocia • based on data from 15 584 parturitions: • occurrence of dystocia: 3.1% • 3.5% in single lambings • 1.3% in twins

45. Dystocia • more frequent: • in primiparous animals • male lambs

46. Abnormal presentations • shoulder flexion: (the most common) • unilateral shoulder flexion: often lambing spontaneously • carpal flexion • breech presentation (two sided hip flexion) • lateral deviation of the head • transverse presentations

47. Dystocia • Overview: • lateral deviation of the head: 32% • insufficient cervical dilatation: 15% • shoulder flexion • carpal flexion • twins • breech presentation • foetal oversize

48. Dystocia • Other occasional causes: • uterine torsion • monstrosities (schistosoma reflexum, double monsters, anasarca, perosomus elumbis)

49. Maternal dystocia

50. Maternal dystocia Incidence: • dry season: less • estrogenic substances • red clover pasture • contaminated food with Fusarium graminaerum • reduced PGF2a production