This presentation is totally for sharing the knowledge about ultrasound images of cattle's reproductive tract at various stages of development. This presentation also includes the pathological condition of bovine reprodictive tract.

1. T R A N S R E C TA L U LT R A S O N O G R A P H Y
I N R E P R O D U C T I V E M A N A G E M E N T
O F C AT T L E
S . J Y O T I 1 , K . K A P H L E 2
1 B . V. S C . & A . H . 9 T H S E M . , I N S T I T U T E O F
A G R I C U LT U R E A N D A N I M A L S C I E N C E , R U PA N D E H I ,
T R I B H U VA N U N I V E R S I T Y, N E PA L
2 D E PA R T M E N T O F T H E R I O G E N O L O G Y, PA K L I H A W A
C A M P U S , R U PA N D E H I , I N S T I T U T E O F A G R I C U LT U R E
A N D A N I M A L S C I E N C E , T R I B H U VA N U N I V E R S I T Y,
N E PA L 1

2. Abstract
Ultrasonography is a useful diagnostic technique in identification of reproductive
abnormality and normal structure of the reproductive tract. Since, the development of
ultrasound in early 1940’s, it has widely been used in detecting tissue structure and
abnormalities in both humans and animals. In 1956, ultrasonography was first used in
cattle to detect back fat thickness. Among, the various uses of ultrasonography,
transrectal ultrasonography is one of the non-invasive techniques used for the detection
of variation and abnormalities in ovarian, uterine and other reproductive structures. In
cattle, transrectal ultrasonography is used in pregnancy diagnosis, fetal sex
determination, diagnosis of abnormalities of the reproductive organs, monitoring of
treatment of ovarian cysts, monitoring of postpartum genital resumption, ultrasound-
guided centesis, folliculocenteses, and also in the study of male genital tract. Transrectal
ultrasonography can provide early, accurate and more reliable diagnosis in comparison
to transrectal palpation and hence gaining popularity in modern reproductive
management of cattle. Cost-effective and portable ultrasound equipment is now
commercially available, and earning popularity day by day. This article reviews the uses
of transrectal ultrasonography to observe various reproductive structures and its
applications in cattle reproduction and management.
Key words: Transrectal ultrasonography, Sound waves, Diagnosis, Cost-effective,
Management 2

3. INTRODUCTION
• Diagnostic ultrasound is a non-invasive and innocuous technique which permits the
detection of tissue interphases along with the description of their shape, size and
structure (Ahmed, 1997)
• In reproductive ultrasonography sound waves of around 3.5, 5 & 7.5 MHz(Abdullahi Et
al., 1999) is passed through piezoelectric probe and various reflections of sound by
different tissues are recorded and displayed on the screen.
3

4. INTRODUCTION
• Transrectal ultrasonography is performed through the introduction of an ultrasound
transducer (probe) into the rectum.
• Transrectal ultrasonography enables the visualization architecture of the ovaries,
uterus, reproductive vasculature and surrounding structures.
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5. PRINCIPLES OF USG
• When the sound waves are passed into the
tissues, individual tissue have its own
reflection and propagation abilities at
various degrees.
• Pulses of ultrasound are generated by
Piezoelectric crystals housed within a
transducer.
• These crystals have unique pressure-electric
properties i.e. they convert electric energy
into ultrasound and vice versa
• The physical characteristics of a tissue
determine what proportion of the sound
beam will be reflected (Pierson et al., 1988)
• An ultrasound imaging system consists of a
transducer and an image display unit.
Image of anechogenic and echogenic
tissue in USG
Photo credit: (Luc DesCôteaux, 2006)
5

6. USG machine Method of transrectal USG Transrectal probe
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7. PRINCIPLES OF USG
• The ultrasound mode that is most frequently used for the examination of animals is B-
mode, real-time imaging.
• Higher frequency waves are used for imaging superficial structures and provide greater
detail with better resolution; however, the depth of the penetration is sacrificed by the
production of an improved image.
• Low frequency waves provide greater tissue penetration and are suitable for deep
organs. However, the image quality is poor with low frequency transducers.
• The proportion of sound beam that is echoed is received by the same piezoelectric
crystals in the transducer and converted to electrical impulses.
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8. OBJECTIVES OF REVIEW
• General objectives
– To know the practical use of ultrasound in reproductive study of normal as well as
pathological conditions of reproductive tracts of cattle.
• Specific objectives
– To know the normal structures of ovary, uterus and uterine horn at various stages
of development
– To know about various applications of USG in reproductive management.
– To know the evolving trend of ultrasonography in reproductive management.
– To identify the disease diagnosing ability of ultrasonography in cattle.
8

9. MAJOR USES OF TRANSRECTAL
ULTRASONOGRAPHY IN REPRODUCTIVE
MANAGEMENT OF CATTLE
• It is used to understand the situations during various stages of estrus cycle.
• It is used to study the status of corpus luteum and ovarian follicles.
• It is used in early pregnancy diagnosis and even early embryonic death.
• It is used for fetal sex determination.
• It is a very useful tool to study the uterine involution process.
• It accurately helps in the identification of cystic ovary.
• It can be used during estrus synchronization programs.
• It is very essential diagnostic tool in identification of pathological condition of the
reproductive tracts.
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10. ULTRASONOGRAPHY IMAGES OF VARIOUS
REPRODUCTIVE STRUCTURES.
• OVARY:
A normal ovary contains ovarian follicles, corpus luteum and ovarian stroma which has
variable echogenicity with various reflection and penetration of ultrasound and hence are
visible on the screen.
1. FOLLICLES.
Follicles appear as anechoic regions within the ovarian stroma. However, it is not usually
possible to distinguish the follicular wall from the surrounding stroma (apart from large pre-
ovulatory follicles). Follicles do not always appear round due to transferred pressure from
the transducer on the surrounding ovarian tissue.( Palgrave, 2012)
The size of follicle varies from 3-10mm in diameter.
During follicular cyst formation, the size of the follicle increase upto 25 mm in diameter.
10

11. Ovarian follicles
Photo credit: (Palgrave, 2012)
11

12. CORPUS LUTEUM
• Corpus luteum (CL) is present for about two
third of the estrous cycle.
• Luteal tissue appear grayish, echogenic area with a
line of demarcation between it and ovarian stroma.
• The cavities inside corpus luteum are largest
from 5.5 to 7 days after Ovulation.(colazo et. al. ,2010)
• A well-defined border of corpus luteum is visible after
3-4 days of ovulation (coteaux, 2010)
Photo credit: (Palgrave, 2012)
Corpus
Luteum
lacunae
Follicles
Corpus
luteum
12

13. UTERUS endometriu
m
myometriu
m
Margins
of uterus
Vascular portion of
uterus
Photo credit: (coteaux, 2010)
• Non-pregnant(Diestrus)
– The structure of non-pregnant uterus varies according
to the stage of estrus cycle.
– During diestrus, The uterus loses its tone, becomes
thinner and normally loses the endometrial liquid.
– Uterus has less heterogenicity in diestrus in
comparison to periestrus.
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14. UTERUS
• Non-pregnant(Periestrus)
– During periestrus ( proestrus, estrus and beginning
of metestrus), uterus is thick, there is more mucus
and the vascularity of the uterus is increased.
– On USG, the structures appear more heterogenous
with less uniform gray tones during periestrus.
– During periestrus, small to moderate quantity of
mucus is visible at the center with rosette
appearance mucus
endometriumMargin of
uterus
myometrium Vascular
Portion
Of uterusPhoto credit: (coteaux,
14

15. UTERUS
• Pregnant
– Ultrasonography allows the diagnosis of pregnancy
from 26th day with an accuracy of 95 % and close to
100% after day 29. (coteaux, 2010)
– Early ultrasound diagnosis of gestation reveals a
uterine lumen containing a variable quantity of
anechogenic fluid produced by the conceptus .
– Normally there is too little fluid inside uterus prior
to 26th day of gestation to confirm pregnancy.
– In some cases, young embryo is often lodged close
to the uterine wall and may even be concealed by
an endometrial fold.
Allantoic
fluid
Amniotic
membrane
30-days old embryo.
Photo credit: (Palgrave, 2012)15

16. UTERUS
• Twins
– Dizygous
• Dizygous twins
are formed from
two eggs and 2
sperms.
• They generally
have two corpus
luteum in 50 % of
the case
• They are either
found on same
uterine horn, or in
two.
two corpus luteum
in same ovary
Dizygous foetus in uterine
horn
Ultrasound image of dizygous twins with two corpus luteumPhoto credit: (coteaux, 2010)
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17. UTERUS
• Twins
– Monozygous
• They are formed from one
one egg and one sperm.
• They generally have single
corpus luteum
• They are close to each
other, which allows easy
identification of them
embryos
Corpus luteum
Photo credit: (coteaux, 2010)
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18. DEAD FOETUS
• The ultrasound image of dead foetus
appears different from normal image.
• Amniotic fluid looks more cloudy in
comparison to the normal dark fluid.
• The embryo loses its architecture. For eg.
In the figure , 54 days old foetus is
presented which should have normal
structure with clear head, limbs and
movement.
Ultrasound image of 54 day old dead twin foetu
Cloudy Amniotic fluid Dead embryos
Photo credit: (coteaux, 2010)
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19. SEX IDENTIFICATION
• Sex identification is an important verification tool to evaluate the accuracy
of embryo- sexing or semen sexing technologies without having to wait
for the birth of animal
• Commercial breeders can use this approach for culling and herd
management decisions.
• Foetal sex determination can be done from 54-100 days of gestation.
Although, ideal time is between 60-70 days.
• Location of genital tubercle is a landmark for determining fetal sex.
• Genital tubercles are highly echogenic structures.
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20. IDENTIFICATION OF MALE FETUS
• In males at around 58 days of
gestation the genital tubercle
reaches its final position
• The tubercles lie slightly caudal to
the umbilicus.
umbilicus
Genital
tubercle
Urogenital
folds
hindlimbs
Photo credit: (coteaux, 2010) USG image of 68th day of gestation of male fetus20

21. IDENTIFICATION OF FEMALE FETUS
• Similar to male fetus the genital tubercle
reach its position in about 58th day of
gestation
• The genital tubercle lies below the tail in
females or between the hindlimbs and
tails.
Female foetus
Hindlimbs
Tail
Genital
tubercle
Photo credit: (Palgrave, 2012)
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22. PATHOLOGICAL CONDITIONS OF
REPRODUCTIVE TRACT
• OVARIAN CYST
– Ovarian cysts in dairy cattle are generally defined as follicular structures of more
than 2.5 cm in diameter that persist for at least 10 d in the absence of a corpus
luteum (Kesler and Garverick ,1982)
– Ovarian cyst are again of two types
• Follicular cyst
• Luteal cyst
22

23. FOLLICULAR CYST
• Ovarian follicle grows to more than 2.5cm
(cattle) in diameter without ovulating,
persists for a long time and then regresses
(Rajamahendran, et. al., 1994)
• They generally appear as an anechogenic
mass with their walls having diameter less
than 3mm
• In general there is the presence of
multiple cyst in one or both the ovaries.
45 mm
diamete
r
follicul
ar cyst
Thin wall
Follicul
ar Cyst
Photo credit: (Palgrave, 2012) 23

24. LUTEAL CYST
• Luteal cyst are formed when the ovarian
follicles fails to ovulate and part of its wall
gets luteinized, growing to a size more than
25 mm in diameter.
• Once it is formed it tends to grow for a long
time and continues secreting progesterone.
• It suppresses the growth of normal ovarian
follicles which leads to anestrus state.
• The luteal tissue is more firm, echoic and
more than 3mm in diameter.
Thicker wall of luteal tissue
34 mm diameter
luteal cyst
Luteal cyst
Photo credit: (Palgrave, 2012)
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25. ENDOMETRITIS
• It is simply the inflammation of the
endometrium with its thickening.
• There are generally two forms of endometritis.
– Subclinical form
• There is no any uterine discharges but
the fertility is affected.
– Clinical form
• There is thickening of the
endometrium along with purulent or
mucopurulent uterine discharges
• USG alone cannot provide definite diagnosis
of endometritis.
Uterus
Mucopurulent material in
uterine lumen
Endometritis
Photo credit: (Palgrave, 2012) 25

26. PYOMETRA
• It is defined as the accumulation of the
purulent fluid inside the uterus
• Generally, there is the presence of corpus
luteum in ovary during pyometra(Zambrano-
Varón J., 2015) .
• There is the presence of hyperechoic particles
with non uniform echogenicity.
• The size of uterus during pyometra is variable.
Hyperechoic particles in uterus
Uterine wall
Photo credit: (coteaux, 2010)
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27. MODERN ADVANCEMENT IN
ULTRASONOGRAPHY• There are various innovation and constant
modifications in ultrasonography
• Despite of the B- mode ultrasonography other
modern ultrasounds in practice are
– Doppler ultrasound
• A doppler ultrasound is used to record the
image of moving objects, especially used to
view the blood vessels. It analyze the frequency
of returning sound waves from the objects in
motion and display it in monitor to allow the
practitioner to see the speed and direction of
moving object with colors.
– 3D ultrasound
• In recent years USG images have been projected
into three dimensions. This is achieved by
scanning tissue cross- sections at many different
angles. It provide complete and more realistic
image of developing fetus. Photo
Picture of doppler ultrasound with
time related changes in blood flow
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28. CONCLUSION
• Transrectal ultrasonography is an important diagnostic tool for the examination of
reproductive status of cattle.
• It is relatively less expensive method and modern portable transrectal USG devices are
available in market which really helps in easy diagnosis
• Ultrasonography can relatively make early and more accurate diagnosis in comparison to
rectal palpation.
• The use of transrectal ultrasonography is increasing day by day with modification and
advancement.
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29. REFERENCES• FISSORE, R.A., EDMONDSON, A.J., PASHEN, R.L., & BONDURANT, R.H. (1986). The Use of Ultrasonography for the Study of the Bovine Reproductive Tract II. Non-
Pregnant, Pregnant and Pathological Conditions of the Uterus. Animal Reproduction Science, 12, 167-177.
• Abdullah, M., Mohanty, T.K., Kumaresan,A., Mohanty, A.K., Madkar, A.R., Baithalu, R.K., & Bhakat, M. (2014). Early Pregnancy Diagnosis in Dairy Cattle: Economic
Importance. Advances in Animal and Veterinary Sciences, 2(8), 464-467.
• Adams, G.P.,& Singh, J. (2011). Bovine Bodyworks: Ultrasound Imaging Of Reproductive Events in Cows. WCDS Advances in Dairy Technology , (pp. 239-254).
• Ahmad, N. (1997). BASIC PRINCIPLES OF DIAGNOSTIC ULTRASONOGRAPHY. Pakistan Vet. J., 17(3).
• ALTUN, 0., GÜRBULAK,K. (2011). A Comparison of Diagnosis of Early Pregnancy in Dairy Cows Via Transrectal and Transvaginal Ultrasound Scaning. J Fac Vet Med Univ
Erciyes, 8(1), 17-21.
• Colazo, Marcos & Ambrose, Divakar & P Kastelic, John. (2010). Practical uses for transrectal ultrasonography in reproductive management of.
• Dhakal,I., Pathak, C., Nepal, G., & Pun, G.B. (2015). PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS OF TRANSRECTAL ULTRASONOGRAPHY FOR REPRODUCTIVE MANAGEMENT OF CATTLE
AND BUFFALOS. BLUE CROSS.
• EDMONDSON, A.J., FISSORE, R.A., PASHEN, R.L., & BONDURANT, R.H. (1986). The Use of Ultrasonography for the Study of the Bovine Reproductive Tract I. Normal and
Pathological Ovarian Structures. AnimalReproduction Science, 12, 157-165.
• Farin, P.W., Youngquist, R.S., Parfet, J.R., and Garverick, H.A. (1990). DIAGNOSIS OF LUTEAL AND FOLLICULAR OVARIAN CYSTS IN DAIRY COWS BY SECTOR SCAN
ULTRASONOGRAPHY. Theriogenology, 34(4), 633-642.
• Kastelic, J.P., Pierson, R.A., & Ginther. O.J. (1990). ULTRASONIC MORPHOLGGY OF CORPORA LUTEA AND CENTRAL LUTEAL CAVITIES DURING THE ESTROUS CYCLE
AND EARLY PREGNANCY IN HEIFERS. Theriogenology.
• Kastelic,J.P.M, Bergfelt, D.R. and Ginther, J.O. (1990). RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ULTRASONIC ASSESSMENT OF THE CORPUS LUTEUM AND PLASMA PROGESTERONE
CONCENTRATION IN HEIFERS. Theriogenology, 33(6), 1269-1278.
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• NAKAO., Abdullahi, Y.,RIBADU., & Toshihiko. (1999). Bovine Reproductive Ultrasonography: A Review. Journal of Reproduction and Development, 45, 13-28.
• Pierson, R.A., & Ginther, O.J. (1984). Ultrasonography of the bovine ovary. Theriogenology, 21.
• ROBERTSON, L., CATTONI, J.C., SHAND, R.I., & JEFFCOATE, I.A. (1993). A CRITICAL EVALUATION OF ULTRASONIC MONITORING OF SUPEROVULATION IN CATTLE. Br.
vet.J.
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30. AKNOWLEDGEMENT
• Associate prof. Krishna Kaphle, Phd
• Dr. Ishwor Dhakal
• Deepak subedi
• Pratik Gautam
• Basanta kumar Adhikari
• Suman Bhandari
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