Vol. 9, Issue 2 (2020)

Author(s):
Mitesh Gaur and Govind Narayan Purohit

Abstract:
With an objective to record the vascularity changes in the umbilicus, placentomes dimensions, and blood flow to the uterus, Surti buffaloes (n=42) were inseminated during natural estrus during the breeding season and scanned by transrectal B mode and color flow mode ultrasonography every 3-4 days till Day 90 of gestation and then at 15 days interval for the complete gestation in the buffaloes that were pregnant (n=24). The umbilical cord color Doppler wavefronts could first be obtained on Day 46 and became increasingly distinct thereafter. The placentomes could first be identified at Day 76 of gestation. The placentome diameters increased from Day 76 till 8^th month with significant increases (P<0.05) during Day 80, then 4^th, 5^th and 6^th month of gestation; thereafter the increase was not significant. The vascularity of placentomes could also be recognized at Day 76 and this increased with increasing months of gestation. The blood flow to the middle uterine arteries could be identified after the 2^nd month of gestation. The resistive index (RI) values of the middle uterine artery ipsilateral to the gravid horn showed an almost linear decline with a significant (P<0.05) drop in the 4^th month and 9^th month of the gestation. Similarly, RI values of the middle uterine artery contra-lateral to the gravid horn revealed significant (P<0.05) decrease in 3^rd month, 5^th month and sixth month. A significant decrease in the pulsatility index (PI) values of the middle uterine artery ipsilateral to the gravid horn were observed for the 3^rd, 6^th and 8^th month of the gestation. However, the PI index values for the middle uterine artery contralateral to the gravid horn showed a non-significant decrease. It was concluded that the placentome dimensions can be used to diagnose the stage of gestation up to 8 months in buffaloes. The umbilical and uterine blood flow evaluation parameters during normal pregnancy increase sequentially and can serve as the basis for evaluating compromised pregnancies.