Unilateral twin pregnancy: A non-infectious factor required for the etiological diagnosis of abortion in dairy herds |
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| Authors: | Fernando L
PEZ-GATIUS Irina GARCIA-ISPIERTO Christian HANZEN |
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| Institution: | 1)Agrotecnio Centre; University of Lleida, 25198 Lleida, Spain;2)Transfer in Bovine Reproduction SLu, 22300 Barbastro, Spain;3)Department of Animal Science, University of Lleida, 25198 Lleida, Spain;4)Department of Veterinary Management of Animal Resources, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium |
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| Abstract: | Twin pregnancies are classified into bilateral (one fetus in each uterine horn: 44%) and unilateral (both fetuses in the same uterine horn, right or left: 56%). The incidence of abortion during mid- to late gestation is approximately 1% in cows carrying bilateral twins and more than 40% in cows carrying unilateral twins. In this period, abortion seems most commonly associated with infectious agents. However, although this imbalanced abortion rate may imply that unilateral twin pregnancy is a non-infectious abortion factor, few available data can describe the cause of abortions in twin pregnancies. The current findings suggest that unilateral twin pregnancy is a non-infectious factor required for the etiological diagnosis of abortion in dairy herds. |
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| Keywords: | Double ovulation Infectious abortion Non-infectious abortion Timing of abortion |
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