Risk factors for stillbirths in two swine farms in the south of Brazil

We evaluated stillbirth risk factors in two commercial swine farms of the Rio Grande do Sul State (south of Brazil). The study was conducted during 1 month in Farm A and during 2 months in Farm B, both during 1999. Data for all farrowings that occurred during the study period were recorded (101 for Farm A and 373 for Farm B), without interference in the farm management. In Farm A, 39% of all litters born during the period of interest had stillborn piglets and the stillborn risk for piglets was 12%. In Farm B, 25% of all litters had stillborn piglets whereas the stillborn risk was 2%. Variables considered as potential risk factors for stillbirths were: parity (1, 2–3, 4+); breed (purebred or crossbred); sow body-condition (normal or fat); use of oxytocin during parturition (yes or no); obstetric intervention through vaginal palpation (yes or no); farrowing duration (<4 or ≥4 h); mummified fetuses (yes or no); total litter size (<12 or ≥12 piglets); and litter birth weight (<11 or ≥11 kg). All stillborn piglets had their classification validated by necropsy. In multivariable logistic-regressions, the cases were the litters having at least one stillborn piglet. In Farm A, litters having at least 12 pigs and in which oxytocin was used during the parturition had 20.8-times-higher odds of stillborn occurrence. In Farm B, litters from sows having parity ≥4 had 2.2-times-higher odds of stillborn occurrence than litters from parity 2 to 3 females, litters having ≥12 pigs had 2.0-times-higher odds of a stillborn piglet than smaller litters and farrowings in which vaginal palpation was performed had 8.0-times-higher odds. Farrowing room management to minimize stillborn risk should target higher-parity females, large litters and optimization of practices of obstetric interventions.     

Why Are Mares with Pneumovagina Susceptible to Bacterial Endometritis? A Personal Opinion

Pneumovagina is the abnormal presence of air in the vagina, which may lead to pneumometra and endometritis. Predisposing factors are abnormal perineal conformation and weakness of the vestibulovaginal sphincter. This report examines why ponies and some other breeds are less susceptible to pneumovagina than Thoroughbreds and consequently less susceptible to endometritis. Observations on vaginal ballooning during vaginoscopic examination led to the conclusion that there is a fundamental difference in intra-abdominal pressures between horses and ponies, and between mares with high or low body condition scores. This difference in the extreme cases, for example, a small fat pony versus a large thin Thoroughbred, means that the pressure gradient in the former is from the uterus through the vagina to the exterior, whereas the case is reversed in the latter. Although the uterus is at a negative pressure relative to the exterior, evacuation of fluids is seriously disadvantaged, leading to an inability to resolve uterine infections.     

Nd:YAG Laser Treatment of a Vestibulovaginal Varicosity in a 15-Year-Old Pregnant Mare

A 15-year-old, pregnant Dutch Warmblood mare was exhibiting intermittent hemorrhage secondary to a large vestibulovaginal varicosity. The vessel was reduced with transendoscopic Nd:YAG laser photocoagulation. This technique is minimally invasive compared with traditional surgical ligation, and significantly decreases the risk of severe hemorrhage, especially with advancing pregnancy. One laser treatment resulted in complete reduction in vessel size and allowed the pregnancy to continue to term without incident or further vaginal hemorrhage.     

Activated Vitamin D3 and Pro-activated Vitamin D3 Attenuate Induction of Permanent Changes Caused by Neonatal Estrogen Exposure in the Mouse Vagina

Exposure of mice to a high dose of estrogens including diethylstilbestrol (DES) during the neonatal period modifies the developmental plan of the genital tract, which leads to various permanent changes in physiology, morphology and gene expression. These changes include development of an abnormal vaginal epithelium lined with hyperplastic mucinous cells accompanied by Tff1 gene expression in mice. Here, the influence of vitamin D on the direct effect of estrogen on the developing mouse vagina was examined. The mid-vagina of neonatal mice was cultured in a serum-free medium containing estradiol-17β (E₂) and various concentrations of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ (1,25(OH)₂D) ex vivo and then was transplanted under the renal capsule of ovariectomized host mice for 35 days. Exposure to E₂ alone caused the vaginal tissue to develop estrogen-independent epithelial hyperplasia and to express TFF1 mRNA, while addition of a low nanomolar amount of 1,25(OH)₂D added at the same time as E₂ to the culture medium attenuated the effects of estrogen. Expression of vitamin D receptor was also evident in the neonatal mouse vagina. Interestingly, addition of 25-hydroxyvitamin D₃, a pro-activated form of vitamin D, at the micromolar level was found to be potent in disrupting the developmental effects of E₂, while cholecalciferol was not at least at the dose examined. Correspondingly, expression of Cyp27B1, a kidney-specific 25-hydroxyvitamin D hydroxylase, was evident in the neonatal mouse vagina when examined by RT-PCR. In addition, simultaneous administration of 1,25(OH)₂D successfully attenuated DES-induced ovary-independent hyperplasia in the vagina in neonatal mice in vivo. Thus, manipulation of vitamin D influenced the harmful effects of estrogens on mouse vaginal development.     

家禽阴道腺贮精机制与研究：Ⅱ：家禽阴道腺的组织化学

成熟的处于盛产期的母鸡用于做阴道腺的组织化学检验，检验结果表明，阴道腺很大程度上含有糖元，而子宫腺及上皮组织不含碳水化合物或只含糖多糖，阴道腺含有以颗粒形式存在的脂类，可能为分泌性的，估计为磷脂或混有其它脂类的混合物，腺体同时也分泌酸性磷酸酶，没有蛋白质合成及分泌位点。     

Observation of estrous cycle in sexual maturation and ovariectomized female ICR mice

AIM: To observe the characteristics of estrous cycle of female ICR mice and ovariectomized mice that had reached sexual maturity stage. METHODS: ICR mice were randomly divided into 3 groups, normal group, sham operation group and ovariectomized group. After ovariectomy and sham operating, at the 8th day, the mice were taken vaginal smears twice daily (09:00 and 16:00) for 12 consecutive days. The feature of vulva in the mice and vaginal smear cytology, occurrence rate of regular estrous cycle, duration of estrous cycle and each stage duration of estrous cycle were recorded and observed. RESULTS: The characteristics of estrous cycle in normal group and sham operation group were similar. Nearly 85% of the ICR mice in sexual maturity stage showed regular estrous cycle. The majority manifested 6-day cycle (83%), and only a small number exhibited 5-day cycle (17%). Compared with 5-day group, the duration of oestrus was significantly increased in 6-day group (P<0.05). The number and kind of the cells in vaginal smear were a little different between 5-day and 6-day groups. The ovariectomized mice which showed irregular estrous cycle (76%) were characterized by continuous diestrus. CONCLUSION: Female ICR mice have the strain characteristics of estrus cycle.     

家禽阴道腺贮精机制的研究：Ⅰ：家禽阴道腺的组织学

本文利用切片技术对家禽阴道腺的大体样剖部位，相应的粘膜结构，阴道腺的细胞组成，数目及大小等作了较为详尽的研究。结果表明，阴道腺位于子宫阴道连接处靠近阴道的一致，在阴道子宫括约肌外２－５ｍｍ，呈较为散在的分布，腺体之间相距较远，且数目较少，腺体直径在６１μｍ左右，空腔较大，与子宫腺相比，所处部位的粘膜结构由上下两排核细胞组成的粘膜崎岖不平，但不象阴道下部那样深。     

Endoscopic resection of a vaginal septum in a bitch and observation of septa in two related bitches

Abstract

CASE HISTORY: In 2008, a 3-year-old female Labrador Retriever was presented for routine breeding soundness evaluation.

CLINICAL FINDINGS: Vaginal endoscopy revealed an 8-cm long and 1-cm thick vaginal septum. Surgical resection of the septum was performed under general anaesthesia using a bipolar high-frequency resectoscope. Three months later the bitch was naturally mated and subsequently delivered five male and two female puppies without complications. Both female puppies were examined at the age of 12 and 15 months and showed a vaginal septum with a diameter of 0.3 and 0.5 cm, respectively.

DIAGNOSIS: Vaginal septa in three related bitches.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This is the first report describing the use of a bipolar high-frequency resectoscope for vaginal surgery in dogs. The septum could be resected quickly, with preservation of surrounding structures. Furthermore, it is the first report collecting information about familial presentation of vaginal septa in female dogs. Based on this case, we suggest that consideration should be given to the possible risk of inheritance of vaginal septa before considering surgical resection and breeding of female dogs.     

Association between vaginal microbiota and risk of early pregnancy miscarriage

Approximately 15 % of clinically recognized pregnancies end in miscarriage. To explore the vaginal microbiota profile in women diagnosed with early pregnancy miscarriage (including missed miscarriage [M] or empty-sac miscarriage [E]), the microbial community structure in vaginal fluid was evaluated by Illumina MiSeq sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene V4 region and compared with that in women with normal pregnancy (P). Taxa identified in samples from the P, E, and M groups formed distinct clusters. The M group had the highest bacterial species richness and diversity, with lower Lactobacillus levels and higher Bacteroides, Halomonas, Miscellaneous-Crenarchaeota, Bacillus, Staphylococcus, Escherichia/Shigella, and Acetobacter levels than in the other two groups. The vaginal community-state types differed significantly among the three groups (P = 0.02) but were similar between the P and E groups (P = 0.21). Moreover, we identified an optimal marker set composed of 12 operational taxonomic units based on a random forest model that distinguished the M and P groups, with areas under the receiver-operating characteristic curve of 86.76 % and 93.33 % in the training and test groups, respectively. In conclusion, this study highlights that patients with early pregnancy miscarriage had a significantly different vaginal microbiota profile. Microbial markers analyzed by RT-qPCR may be applied for the etiological diagnosis of miscarriage. Further studies should be performed to elucidate the possible mechanism of special strains affecting miscarriage during early pregnancy.     

发情期大熊猫阴道分泌物细菌分析

寄生菌是动物体非特异性免疫的重要组成部分，体表或体内的微生态系统对于牵制或抑制外来有害病原体起到重要作用。生殖道内的寄生菌对于维持生殖道内的稳态起着重要作用。2011年年初在对北京动物园2只健康的雌性大熊猫“萌萌”和“瑛华”进行人工授精过程中，抽取阴道深部（约15cm处）分泌物，于有氧和无氧两种条件下，进行了细菌培养。2只大熊猫的培养结果完全相同。均主要有三株细菌，利用API鉴定试剂条鉴定的结果是L群链球菌、溶血性大肠杆菌和乳杆菌。对数量较多的链球菌和溶血性大肠杆菌进行了药物敏感试验以及16sRNA的测定。药物敏感试验结果显示这两株细菌对大多数抗生素均敏感。16sRNA序列测定结果进一步印证了API菌株鉴定的结果。