Pregnancy Diagnosis (Cram)

What are the six external signs of pregnancy that can contribute towards a pregnancy diagnosis

1. Record of Breeding (A.I. or visual observation)
2. Cessation of Estrus
3. Enlargement of the Abdomen
4. Enlargement of Mammary Glands
5. Increased Weight
6. Movements of the Fetus

What are the four cardinal signs of pregnancy detectable on rectal palpation of cattle?

1. Fetal membrane slip (palpable from 30 days)2. Amniotic vesicle (palpable from days 30–65)
2. Placentomes (palpable from day 75)
3. Fetus (palpable from 70 days)

Which is more dangerous: Rectal palpation of cows or of mares?

Rectal palpation of mares is more dangerous

What bandaging method is used to prepare a mare for rectal palpation?

Tail wrap

Vaginal examination is primarily used in which species?

Mares. It is to help confirm rectal findings

Fill in the blank: A vaginal examination looks at the (structure), it changes in response to the __ hormone status of the mare

Fill in the blank: A vaginal examination looks at the cervix, it changes in response to the steroid hormone status of the mare

Note: It becomes very tightly puckered when pregnant

Fill in the blank: Biological tests involve the determination of hormones present in either the ______ or the ______.

serum, urine

Which type of hormones are measured in the serum?

Gonadotrophin hormones

Which hormone is measured in the urine?

Estrogen

Equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) (also called pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG)) is produced by which structures?

Endometrial cups. The function of the endometrial cups and eCG (PMSG) are unclear

Note: Beginning around day 40 - 120 of pregnancy

What is an obsolete pregnancy test that involves a rat?

Ascheim Zondek Test (the A.Z or rat test)

Note: Live rabbits or frogs were used in similar tests. Modern pregnancy tests still operate on the basis of testing for the presence of the hormone hCG

What can be tested for in almost any bodily fluid of horses? It is considered an indicator of fetal viability after 44 days

Estrone sulfate

Note: Urine, serum, milk, or feces can all be tested, but at different times during pregnancy

Pregnancy Specific Protein B (PSPB) ELISA Kit can be used on which species?

Cows, ewes, does, elk, and bison

What method of pregnancy diagnosis is almost eclusively used in small animal medicine (maybe small sheep)?

Radiographs

True or false: Ultrasound can be used to determine pregancy, but only late in pregnancy

False. Ultrasound can detect pregnancy very early. Starting at 21 days in the sow, and 12-14 days in the bitch. The fetal heartbeat can also be detected at 28 days

What is the purpose of looking for genital tubercle in pregnant cows via ultrasound?

Fetal sexing. Do this between 55-85 days

Which method of pregancy diagnosis is an early means of detection in cows, and is most practical in milking dairy cows

Milk progesterone test (uses an ELISA test)

What does ELISA test stand for

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay

What is the causative agent of Bovine Trichomoniasis? It causes the death of the developing fetus between 18–70 days of pregnancy

Tritrichomonas fetus