Impact of low-dose ozone supplementation on motility parameters and bacterial growth in horse cryopreserved semen.

Two studies were conducted to evaluate the use of medical ozone (O) in commercial extenders for equine semen cryopreservation. In the first study (Study 1), 0, 5, and 15 µg/mL of O were added to diluents of refrigerated or frozen semen. Samples were evaluated for sperm kinematics at different time points for the chilled samples and after a thermoresistence test for the frozen/thawed samples.

Report on a Milking Mule: Milk Qualitative Characteristics during Lactation.

Despite their inability to reproduce naturally, mules can host embryos and be surrogate dams. The aim of this investigation was to increase our knowledge of the qualitative composition of mule's milk and its variations throughout the whole lactation period-namely, from 6 h after foaling to 180 days in milk (DIM). Milk was obtained from a mule dam that had foaled after receiving a mule embryo transfer.

GnRH analogue triptorelin acetate induces ovulation in jennies during oestrus.

Most of the northern hemisphere donkey breeds are faced with the risk of extinction, thus donkey reproduction is considered an emerging branch of theriogenology, and the management of artificial insemination and induction of ovulation is a crucial point in setting up preservation protocols. For four consecutive cycles, six jennies' ovarian activity was routinely monitored; an ultrasound examination was performed daily from the evidence of a follicle diameter ≥27 mm until ovulation. Upon reaching a follicular diameter ≥32 ± 2 mm (Hour 0), oestrous jennies were treated alternatively with 0.

Endometrial expression of antimicrobial peptides as markers of subclinical endometritis in mares.

Background: Endometritis is a major cause of subfertility in mares. Multiparous old mares are more susceptible to developing endometritis given that ageing is associated with an altered immune response and with inadequate physiological uterine clearance after breeding, which can lead to degenerative changes in the endometrium. Molecules such as antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been proposed as endometritis markers in the equine species.

Interspecific and Intraspecific Artificial Insemination in Domestic Equids.

Horses and donkeys differ phenotypically and karyotypically, although they can interbreed freely. Eight Standardbred mares and nine Amiata donkey jennies were included in the study. Semen was collected from two horses and two donkey stallions of proven fertility.

The Kisspeptin analogue C6 induces ovulation in jennies.

Kisspeptins (KPs) are the most potent stimulating neurotransmitters of GnRH release, and consequently KP administration triggers LH and/or FSH release. In small ruminants, KP or its analogs induced an LH surge followed by ovulation in both cyclic and acyclic animals, while in the mare KP only increased LH plasma levels but failed to induce ovulation. This study in jennies compares the endocrinological effects, ovulatory and pregnancy rates of the KP analog C6 and the GnRH analog buserelin acetate.

Recipients' pregnancy rate was affected by season but not by the temperature-humidity index (THI) in an equine commercial ET programme in Southern Europe.

This study retrospectively analysed the effects of different environmental factors such as the photoperiod, temperature/humidity index of 19 years of a commercial embryo transfer programme performed in central Italy. From 340 donors of different breeds and aged between 2 and 25 years, 576 embryos of an excellent or good quality were obtained by uterine flushing on days 7-8 after ovulation. The embryos were transferred to 259 recipients, aged between 2 and 16 years, and belonging to different breeds.

Variables Affecting Veterinary Students' Ability to Accurately Interpret Ovulation in Live Mare Palpation.

In a veterinary medicine curriculum, students' hands-on practice is essential but is still considered one of the major deficiencies in veterinary schools in Europe. After theoretical and basic practical training, students, under the control of experienced veterinarians (supervisors), monitored the reproductive cycle of embryo recipients by transrectal palpation and ultrasound. To evaluate the skills of students, the question "Has she ovulated?" was posed when a dominant follicle ≥ 35 mm was recorded in the previous day's examination and a score of 1 or 0 was assigned in the case of a correct or incorrect answer (test palpation), respectively.

hCG is more effective than the GnRH agonist buserelin for inducing the first ovulation of the breeding season in mares.

Background: Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) and Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone agonists (GnRHa) are routinely used to induce ovulation in mares. However, GnRHa efficacy in transitional mares has been suggested to be low.

Objectives: The aims of this study were as follows: (a) to compare the efficacy of hCG and GnRHa in inducing the first ovulation of the breeding season and (b) to evaluate the correlation between ovulatory response, uterine oedema and teasing score at the time of treatment during the early or late transitional phase.

Hastening Time to Ejaculation in Donkey Jacks Treated with the PGF2α Analog, Cloprostenol Sodium.

Due to the long courtship needed to attain excitation and erection, donkey semen collection can take up to 90 min. ProstaglandinF2α (PGF2α) has been reported to hasten the onset of erection and ejaculation in domesticated mammals, presumably by inducing smooth muscle contractions in the internal genitalia. However, while it has been anecdotally used in donkeys, it has yet to be critically evaluated.

Embryo technologies in donkeys (Equus Asinus).

In industrialized countries, the donkey population had a dramatic decrease during the last century and this has brought almost all European donkey breeds to risk. Embryo technologies have already been employed as a tool for the conservation of endangered equid species (e.g.

Role of body condition score and adiponectin expression in the progression of canine mammary carcinomas.

Obesity has been identified as a risk factor for developing breast cancer in post-menopausal period in humans and has been suspected to be associated with a worse prognosis also in the bitch. The aims of this study were to investigate the association between body condition score (BCS) and the prognosis of canine mammary carcinomas (CMCs) and the relationships between adiponectin expression and tumour behaviour. Seventy-three bitches with tubular, tubulopapillary, solid or complex carcinomas were included in the present study.

Relation between Apgar scoring and physical parameters in 44 newborn Amiata donkey foals at birth.

The assessment of the behavior and physiological parameters of neonatal foals is essential in the detection of early signs of illness. Modified Apgar scoring systems from human medicine exist and have been validated in foals as a guide for assessing neonatal viability after birth. This study evaluated the viability of 44 Amiata donkey foals at birth, by assessing the Apgar score and comparing the relationship between viability and various physical parameters.

Key Aspects of Donkey and Mule Reproduction.

Donkeys are nonseasonal, polyestrous, territorial, and nonharem breeders. Although there are many similarities between horses and donkeys, there are also reproductive features that differ, from the longer cervix in the jenny to spermatogenic efficiency in the jack. Mules display reproductive cyclic activity but are rarely fertile.

Pharmacokinetics of levosulpiride after single-dose administration in goats (Capra hircus) by different routes of administration.

Levosulpiride (LSP) is the l-enantiomer of sulpiride, and LSP recently replacing sulpiride in several EU countries. Several studies about LSP in humans are present in the literature, but neither pharmacodynamic nor pharmacokinetic data of LSP is present for veterinary species. The aim of this study was to assess the pharmacokinetic profile of LSP after intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM), and oral (PO) administration in goats.

Determination of Salivary Cortisol in Donkey Stallions.

Salivary cortisol provides information about free plasma cortisol concentration, and salivary sampling is a noninvasive well-tolerated procedure. The aim of this study was to validate a commercial enzyme immunoassay for the determination of salivary cortisol in donkeys. Saliva samples were collected in four donkey stallions on 13 nonconsecutive days at 8:30 AM to avoid circadian variation.

Post-thaw Addition of Caffeine and/or Pentoxifylline Affect Differently Motility of Horse and Donkey-Cryopreserved Spermatozoa.

To increase sperm motility, several molecules have been tested in mammals. Methylxanthines have shown effects on sperm motility, capacitation, and on in vitro fertilization processes. The aim of the study was to evaluate if the post-thaw addition of caffeine and/or pentoxifylline changes motility parameters of cryopreserved stallion and donkey spermatozoa.

Effect of the administration of alfaprostol 3 or 6 days after ovulation in jennies: ultrasonographic characteristic of corpora lutea and serum progesterone concentration.

Donkey jenny's corpus luteum (CL) response to PGF2α analogues has not been investigated in depth. Aim of this study was to evaluate the donkey jenny's corpus luteum (CL) ultrasonographic characteristics (diameter, area and vascularized area) by B-Mode, Color Doppler and serum progesterone concentration ([P4]) after treatment with the prostaglandins F2α analogue alfaprostol at day 3 or day 6 after ovulation (groups PG3 and PG6, respectively). [P4] was positively correlated (P < 0.

Variables affecting semen quality and its relation to fertility in the dog: A retrospective study.

Although semen analysis is routinely used to evaluate the male reproductive potential in the canine species, only a few authors have attempted to relate semen characteristics to donor traits, such as age or weight, and fertility. This study evaluated the effects of dogs' age (young: 0-24 months, adult: 25-84 months, old: >84 months), size (small: <15 kg, medium: 16-40 kg, large: >40 kg) and reason for semen collection (evaluation, artificial insemination, cryopreservation or research purposes) on the seminal characteristics and related the main seminal characteristics with fresh AI results. Overall, 251 semen examinations were performed from 140 dogs presented between 2000 and 2015 at the University of Pisa Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

Reproductive parameters of donkey jacks undergoing puberty.

In male donkeys, puberty and the related events have been poorly characterized. The aim of this study was to evaluate the age at which male donkeys reach puberty, and characterize age associated changes in testicular size, testicular blood flow, serum testosterone concentration and semen quality. Every two months, starting at 6 months and finishing at 24 months of age, five male donkeys born in May to July were subjected to B-mode ultrasound examination to assess testicular size and scrotum content and blood serum sampling for testosterone concentration.

Induction of ovulation with buserelin in jennies: in search of the minimum effective dose.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the minimum dose of buserelin acetate (buserelin) able to induce ovulation between 24 and 48 h from treatment (positive response) in estrous jennies. Jennies were studied during a total of 172 estrous cycles: ovarian activity was routinely monitored by ultrasound; when the dominant follicle reached a diameter of 33 ± 1 mm, estrous jennies were treated by subcutaneous administration of different doses of buserelin, 3.3mg (N = 11), 1.

Retrospective study of factors affecting multiple ovulations, embryo recovery, quality, and diameter in a commercial equine embryo transfer program.

In this study, 198 donor mares of different breeds, ages, and reproductive category were inseminated with fresh, cooled and frozen or frozen and cooled semen at the embryo transfer station or in private artificial insemination centers during 10 breeding seasons. The results of this activity were retrospectively analyzed by Pearson Chi-square test and logistic regression to evaluate factors affecting multiple ovulations, embryo recovery, embryo quality, and embryo diameter. Out of the 661 cycles, 937 ovulations were recorded (mean ovulations/cycle: 1.

Clinical, ultrasonographic, and endocrinological studies on donkey pregnancy.

Although donkey breeding has gained new interest in the past two decades, knowledge about donkey reproduction is still scarce, particularly on jenny pregnancy. The aim of this study was to describe the ultrasonographic and endocrine profiles of the physiological pregnancy in the jenny. The study was performed on 12 pregnancies of 7 Amiata donkeys from Day 10 after ovulation to delivery.