Rilievi ecografici della gravidanza precoce nell'asina di Martina Franca = Ultrasonographic evaluation of the early pregnacy in Martina Franca jennies

In the mare, ultrasonography is widely used during the early pregnancy for evaluating the development of the conceptus and for highlight abnormalities. Instead, in the jenny, the ultrasonographic appearance of the early pregnancy has not been jet thoroughly described. The ultrasonographic study of the conceptus between Days 8 and 54 of pregnancy in six Martina Franca jennies has shown that the blastocyst was detected at Day 12 and its mobility ceased on Day 17 The growth rate of the vescicle was very high (3 mm/die) from Days 12 to 18, reduced (0.4 mm/die) from Days 20 to 28, and then moderate (1.8 mm/die) after Day 30. The embryo was first detected on Day 22, the allantoic sac and the heart beat on Day 26. The yolk sac was detectable until Day 44, and the ventral descent of the fetus was complete on Day 50. The growth rate of the conceptus was moderate during the embryonic phase (between Days 12 and 40) and then higher during the fetal phase (after Day 40). Data and morphometric features of the donkey conceptus recorded in the present study were similar to those previously reported in jennies and mares.