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Successful reduction of a monozygotic equine twin pregnancy via transabdominal ultrasound‐guided cardiac puncture
Author(s) -
Sper R. B.,
Whitacre M. D.,
Bailey C. S.,
Schramme A. J.,
Orellana D. G.,
Ast C. K.,
Vasgaard J. M.
Publication year - 2012
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/j.2042-3292.2011.00254.x
Subject(s) - medicine , foal , twin pregnancy , monozygotic twin , embryo transfer , pregnancy , obstetrics , fetus , ultrasound , gestation , gynecology , surgery , radiology , genetics , biology , history , archaeology
Summary In horses, twin pregnancy is pathological and represents a potentially life‐threatening condition to the mare and foal. Twinning occurs in approximately 2% of pregnancies. Of these, the majority of cases are dizygotic twins, resulting from 2 ovulations and monozygotic twins are rare. A 12‐year‐old Quarter Horse mare was presented for breeding management with shipped cooled semen and embryo transfer. Seven days post ovulation, a single late morula/early blastocyst was recovered and transferred immediately to a recipient mare. Thirty‐six days after transfer, transrectal ultrasound examination revealed the presence of 2 embryos. A transcutaneous reduction of one of the fetuses was performed successfully at 128 days of gestation. This report is the first to describe a successful reduction of monozygotic twins by transcutaneous ultrasound‐guided cardiac puncture.