Premium
A single umbilical artery and omphalophlebitis in an Arabian foal
Author(s) -
Girodroux M.,
Lores M.,
Vilaregut L.,
Wilsher S.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
equine veterinary education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.304
H-Index - 31
eISSN - 2042-3292
pISSN - 0957-7734
DOI - 10.1111/eve.12760
Subject(s) - foal , single umbilical artery , medicine , umbilicus (mollusc) , umbilical cord , umbilical artery , placenta , obstetrics , fetus , amniotic fluid , pregnancy , surgery , anatomy , biology , genetics
Summary In women, a single umbilical artery has been associated with congenital abnormalities and post‐natal problems for the infant. This paper describes a case of a single umbilical artery in the amniotic portion of an abnormally long umbilical cord of a recipient mare carrying an Arabian foal. In this case, the single umbilical artery did not appear to be associated with congenital abnormalities that resulted in fetal demise or serious post‐partum problems. However, the placenta showed signs, both during gestation and after delivery, of disturbances in its fluid dynamics, and omphalophlebitis developed in the foal at age one week. How such cord anomalies might disturb fluid homeostasis in the placenta or bias the foal to umbilical infection remains to be determined. Notwithstanding, careful examination of the umbilical cord at birth could alert attending veterinary clinicians to be particularly discerning in their examination of the umbilicus.