Sexing the Bovine Fetus Using Fetal Fluid Cells Recovered by Transvaginal Ultrasound-Guided Uterine Puncture

Makondo, Kennedy (1996) Sexing the Bovine Fetus Using Fetal Fluid Cells Recovered by Transvaginal Ultrasound-Guided Uterine Puncture. Master of Veterinary Medicine thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

This study was aimed at using high quality ultrasonography to recover fetal fluids in early gestation (50-120 days) for the purpose of fetal sex diagnosis using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A transvaginal puncture technique developed for ovum pick-up was modified for fetal fluid aspiration. Where possible, and preferably, fluid was recovered from the nonpregnant horn. Fetal fluid samples were shown to contain cells and genomic DNA was extracted for sex determination by a nested, allele-specific amplification of the bovine zfx and zfy gene fragments by PCR. The accuracy and applicability of this technique was verified using abattoir material from animals of known gender. Repeated transvaginal ultrasound-guided fetal fluid recovery proved traumatic to the fetus causing fetal death and/or spontaneous pregnancy loss in six animals, five out of five cows and one out of three heifers. However, two heifers have retained live fetuses for over two weeks since the procedure. Sex diagnosis by PCR was highly accurate despite obvious maternal cell contamination of some samples. The fetal gender of all the pregnancies tested agreed with fetal sex obtained using ultrasonography or after examining the genitalia of aborted fetuses.

• Item Type: Thesis (Master of Veterinary Medicine)
• Qualification Level: Masters
• Additional Information: Adviser: L Robertson
• Keywords: Veterinary science, Animal sciences, Medical imaging
• Date of Award: 1996
• Depositing User: Enlighten Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:1996-75490
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 19 Dec 2019 09:15
• Last Modified: 19 Dec 2019 09:15
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/75490