Ultrasonographic Appearance and Echo-pattern Characterization of Donkeys’ Internal Reproductive Organs

The current study was achieved to designate the accessory sex glands, ampullae and urethra of 25 healthy male donkeys using the ultrasonography. Animals were classified according to their age into young peri-mature (i.e. ≤2 years; n=7) and old mature (>3 years; n=18). The examination was done per rectum by using Magic 2200 scanner with a 6 MHz linear transrectal transducer. The position of each gland was allocated, and length and width were measured. The dimensions of prostate gland lobes and ampulla ductus deferens significantly differed between the examined groups. The echo-pattern analysis of vesicular gland and ampulla ductus deferens, in terms of mean pixel value (MPV), pixel intensity (PI) and pixel number (PN), significantly differed between premature and mature donkeys. Age was significantly correlated with all sex glands measurements. There was a substantial confident relationship between MPV and PI and the dimensions of vesicular and ampulla ductus deferens. In the meantime, PN was clearly negatively correlated with vesicular gland length and width. In conclusions, ultrasound is a feasible non-invasive diagnostic tool that could be used to characterize the accessory glands along the course of the pelvic urethra of male donkeys reared in Egypt. The addressed measures as well as acoustic physiognomies of the secondary sex organs are considered a promising guide in fertility potential prediction and/or the discrimination of the pathological conditions of male reproductive organs

Influence of IBR vaccination timing on ovarian and uterine statuses and circulating progesterone and estradiol 17β in synchronized crossbreed heifers

To declare the interaction between IBR vaccination and the synchronization protocol, dairy heifers (n= 24), 12.5-14.0 months old, were equally and randomly assigned according to the timing of vaccination into pre-synch group (vaccinated 3 days before synchronization), in-synch group (vaccinated five days after the start of the synchronization), and control (given sterile water same as treated groups). Ovarian and uterine ultrasound examinations were done on Day -3, 5, 8, 19 and 43. Blood samples were collected for measuring estradiol and progesterone levels after vaccination. The effect of IBR vaccination on ovarian activity appeared on Day 5 (P= 0.07) through decrease in the mean diameter of the growing follicles in pre-synch group compared to in-synch group, and on Day 8 through reduction of the total and growing follicular numbers (P= 0.05 and 0.03, respectively) in in-synch group compared to other groups. Estradiol levels were significantly (P=0.03) higher on day 8 (day of insemination) in the pre-synch group than the other groups. The uterine changes were characterized by a significant decrease in uterine diameters on Day 5 in the pre-synch group compared with control. The ventral uterine diameter in-synch group decreased on Day 5 (P= 0.015) and re-increased on Day 8 (P= 0.007 compared to control group. In conclusion, administration of IBR vaccination prior to synchronization may possess some impacts on the ovarian and uterine activities without major adverse reactions on reproduction. Therefore, vaccination timing is recommended to be at least three days away from the beginning of the synchronization protocol

Modulation of genotoxicity and endocrine disruptive effects of malathion by dietary honeybee pollen and propolis in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

The present study aimed at verifying the usefulness of dietary 2.5% bee-pollen (BP) or propolis (PROP) to overcome the genotoxic and endocrine disruptive effects of malathion polluted water in Oreochromis niloticus (O. niloticus). The acute toxicity test was conducted in O. niloticus in various concentrations (0–8 ppm); mortality rate was assessed daily for 96 h. The 96 h-LC50 was 5 ppm and therefore 1/5 of the median lethal concentration (1 ppm) was used for chronic toxicity assessment. In experiment (1), fish (n = 8/group) were kept on a diet (BP/PROP or without additive (control)) and exposed daily to malathion in water at concentration of 5 ppm for 96 h “acute toxicity experiment”. Protective efficiency against the malathion was verified through chromosomal aberrations (CA), micronucleus (MN) and DNA-fragmentation assessment. Survival rate in control, BP and PROP groups was 37.5%, 50.0% and 100.0%, respectively. Fish in BP and PROP groups showed a significant (P < 0.05) reduction in the frequency of CA (57.14% and 40.66%), MN (53.13% and 40.63%) and DNA-fragmentation (53.08% and 30.00%). In experiment (2), fish (10 males and 5 females/group) were kept on a diet with/without BP for 21 days before malathion-exposure in water at concentration of 0 ppm (control) or 1 ppm (Exposed) for further 10 days “chronic toxicity experiment”. BP significantly (P < 0.05) reduced CA (86.33%), MN (82.22%) and DNA-fragmentation (93.11%), prolonged the sperm motility when exposed to 0.01 ppm of pollutant in vitro and increased the estradiol level in females comparing to control. In conclusion, BP can be used as a feed additive for fish prone to be raised in integrated fish farms or cage culture due to its potency to chemo-protect against genotoxicity and sperm-teratogenicity persuaded by malathion-exposure

Ultrasonographic Monitoring of Uterine Involution in Postpartum Buffalo Cows

A description of normal ultrasonographic alternations of the uterus in the postpartum (PP) in buffaloes is essential for the diagnosis of pathological conditions and improves the ability to differentiate puerperal pathology from normal physiological changes. The current study aimed to characterize the changes in uterine features assessed ultrasonographically in normal parturient Egyptian buffaloes (n=20) during the post-calving period (Until Day 60 PP). In the current data, ultrasonographic findings indicated that the uterine involution was completed at 4-6 weeks PP in normal calved Egyptian buffaloes. Moreover, calving during the spring season and female new born calves were associated with an enhanced uterine involution. Early cyclicity positively influences endometrial thickness (during early PP), dorsal and ventral uterine curvature, and uterine lumen diameter (during late PP) as compared with the late cyclic group. In conclusion, the uterine involution is ended by the 6th weeks PP in normal parturient Egyptian buffaloes. Moreover, season and calves gender implicate in the changes associated with uterine involution in buffaloes. It is extremely recommended to employ ultrasound examinations in the dairy herd to improve the reproductive efficiency of females by reducing the days open and increasing the number of milking animals

Ultrasonographic Monitoring of Uterine Involution in Postpartum Buffalo Cows: Uterine involution in Buffaloes

A description of normal ultrasonographic alternations of the uterus in the postpartum (PP) in buffaloes is essential for the diagnosis of pathological conditions and improves the ability to differentiate puerperal pathology from normal physiological changes. The current study aimed to characterize the changes in uterine features assessed ultrasonographically in normal parturient Egyptian buffaloes (n=20) during the post-calving period (Until Day 60 PP). In the current data, ultrasonographic findings indicated that the uterine involution was completed at 4-6 weeks PP in normal calved Egyptian buffaloes. Moreover, calving during the spring season and female new born calves were associated with an enhanced uterine involution. Early cyclicity positively influences endometrial thickness (during early PP), dorsal and ventral uterine curvature, and uterine lumen diameter (during late PP) as compared with the late cyclic group. In conclusion, the uterine involution is ended by the 6th weeks PP in normal parturient Egyptian buffaloes. Moreover, season and calves gender implicate in the changes associated with uterine involution in buffaloes. It is extremely recommended to employ ultrasound examinations in the dairy herd to improve the reproductive efficiency of females by reducing the days open and increasing the number of milking animals

Genetic characterization of FSH beta-subunit gene and its association with buffalo fertility

Objective: To study genetic variation in buffalo follicle stimulating hormone beta-subunit (FSHB) gene and its association with fertility.Methods: In this experimental study, blood samples were collected by standard methods using EDTA anticoagulant and transrectal ultrasound examination was conducted on fertile (n=74) and infertile buffaloes with a history of anestrum (n=30) or repeat breeding (n=12). The genomic DNA was extracted for PCR followed by single strand conformation polymorphism analysis. DNA sequencing was performed for the determination of single nucleotide polymorphism of FSHB gene.Results: The study results showed that there was genetic polymorphism with two different single strand conformation polymorphism patterns, AA and AB. The former pattern was associated with fertility in Egyptian buffaloes. Pair wise alignment of the two patterns sequences revealed that FSHB pattern II (AB) has C nucleotide insertion as SNP at the site of 208 bp of sequenced fragment.Conclusions: FSHB is polymorphic in the Egyptian buffaloes, suggesting its practicability as a candidate marker for female fertility

Effect of buffalo bull breeds on developmental competence and vitrification of in-vitro produced embryos

Objective: To assess effect of buffalo bull breed on the development and cryotolerence of the in vitro produced embryos. Methods: Three types of frozen semen were adopted; Egyptian, Italian and cross-bred (Egyptian-Italian) breeds were used for in-vitro fertilization and vitrification of their embryos. Oocytes were collected from buffalo ovaries and matured in vitro for 24 h, then they were fertilized using the three semen breeds. The produced embryos of morula and blastocysts were vitrified using ethylene glycol and dimethyl sulfoxide then evaluated for their viability after warming. Results: The cleavage and blastocysts rates significantly declined in oocytes fertilized by Egyptian (P<0.01) than in Italian (P<0.05) and crossbred (P<0.05) frozen semen. After embryo vitrification, there were no significant differences among the three breeds in the percentages of morphologically viable embryos evaluated directly after warming and at 24 h post-culture. Conclusions: The in vitro fertilization response to frozen-thawed semen varies between breeds; however, the resistance of produced embryos to the damage effect of vitrification does not vary