The overall goal of this procedure is to accurately diagnose pregnancy and obtain fetal measurements in the reeves smut jack deer using transabdominal ultrasound examination. This is accomplished by first immobilizing the animal and preparing the abdomen for examination by removing all hair and applying acoustic coupling gel to the skin. The second step is to scan the abdomen in a methodical fashion that permits thorough evaluation of the reproductive tract and other structures of the coddle abdomen.
Next, the developing fetus, if present is identified and assessed for viability and images and video clips are collected and saved for future analysis. The final step is recovery of the animal from the ultrasound procedure and reversal of sedation if applicable. Ultimately, images and video clips obtained from the ultrasound examination can be further analyzed to obtain fetal measurements and to characterize in utero growth and development parameters for this species.
This method can help provide critical information regarding reproductive physiology in this unique service species, including fetal and maternal response to disease, drug therapy, and environmental manipulations. Successful implementation of this technique serves as an effective means to further understanding of pathological processes that occur in utero because it permits minimally invasive real-time visualization of the developing fetus. Yeah, Please note that all animal procedures as described in this protocol should have approval by the institutional animal Care and use committee at your accredited institution.
Once the dough has reached a plane of sedation that allows for compliant handling, position her in either dorsal or lateral recumbent on an examination table or within a V trough, be sure to elevate the head, neck, and thorax approximately 20 to 30 degrees to reduce the risk of regurgitation and aspiration of ruminal contents and to facilitate proper ventilation during the procedure. In any recumbent position, it is critical to carefully monitor the animal's respirations and immediately stop the examination and place the animal in sternal recumbent. If regurgitation or hypoventilation is noted, position the ultrasound unit in a location that allows the technician to easily visualize the monitor while conducting the examination with his or her dominant hand input animal identification information such as name or identification number into the system to automatically label saved images and video loops.
Begin by applying a generous amount of acoustic coupling gel to the coddle abdomen. Then place a five to 10 megahertz curved linear transducer on the skin of the coddle abdomen, immediately cranial to the pubis and move it slowly in a cranial direction to evaluate the structures within the pelvic cavity. Scan the left and right quadrants of the coddle abdomen to assess both horns of the mutt jacks by cornea uterus.
For the purpose of this protocol, only examination of pregnancy will be discussed in detail. However, the normal appearance of other coddle abdominal organs should be recognized as these structures are likely to be encountered during the course of the study. By rotating and or fanning the scan head of the transducer structures can be evaluated in transverse or sagittal planes make adjustments to the depth, frequency, and gain as necessary to improve contrast and image detail.
The gain should be set to a point where optimal contrast between hypoechoic and hypoechoic tissues is achieved, and these settings may need to be adjusted depending on the structures that are being imaged. Gestation age in any domestic animal species can be estimated using established reference ranges For fetal measurements obtained from ultrasound examination nation, the most commonly used measurements include straight crown, rump length, chest depth, and head length to measure straight crown rump length, locate the uterus on the monitor and make fine adjustments to the position of the transducer until a sagittal view of the entire fetus is obtained. Phrase the image and measure the distance between the most dorsal aspect of the skull and the base of the sacrum.
To measure chest depth, again, obtain a sagittal view of the fetus and measure the distance between the dorsal and ventral aspects of the thorax. Then to measure head length, measure the distance from the occipital crest to the base of the nose. To calculate fetal heart rate, identify the heart within the thoracic cavity of the fetus by visualizing its rhythmical contractions.
Calculate the heart rate by counting the number of contractions that occur within a one minute period of time. Finally, verify that all saved images and video loops include all necessary identification information, including animal name or number date measurements and appropriate structure labels. Once ultrasound is complete, remove all residual ultrasound contact gel from the animal's abdomen using a soft cloth or paper towels, clean the gel from the transducer as well prior to storage.
If using the sedation protocol described in the text accompanying this protocol, administer at aamaz all subcutaneously at a dose of point 25 milligrams per kilogram to reverse the effects of meine. If using a different sedation protocol in which an antagonist is available, administer this agent to the animal according to published dosages at the conclusion of the procedure to speed recovery. Finally, place the mutt jack on a soft beded surface external recumbent with the head slightly elevated to reduce the risk of regurgitation and aspiration of ruminal.Contents.
Monitor the animal closely until fully recovered and able to ambulate around the enclosure without assistance. An ultrasound image demonstrating early pregnancy in a reeve's mutt jack deer can be seen here. The dough has been housed with an intact male mutt jack for 46 days.
However, an exact breeding date is not known. Fetal features are not distinguishable at this stage of gestation. This is an ultrasound image of the same pregnancy at 91 days following introduction of the dough to the buck.
And here we see an ultrasound image of a second pregnancy demonstrating appropriate positioning for obtaining fetal measurements. This image was also taken 91 days following introduction of the dough to the buck Once mastered reproductive ultra sonography is a reliable tool for the timely diagnosis of pregnancy and assessment of fetal characteristics in reeves mu jack deer. In the future, this method may be used to answer additional questions such as how fetal measurements correlate with gestational age, and in what way maternal disease status can affect a utero growth and development.
