title: Ultrasonic measurement of fetal parameters for estimation of gestational age in Korean black goats.
abstract: The objective of this study was to determine relationship of gestational age with measurement of diameter of head, orbit, trunk, long and short axis of heart, aorta, placentome, umbilical cord and umbilical vein in Korean black goats. In this study, ten pregnant Korean black goats (Capra hircus aegagrus) were used. Pregnancy diagnosis was performed with a 5 MHz linear transducer and ultrasonographic scan were performed at 60, 75, 90, 105, 120 and 135 days after mating with a 4-9 MHz convex transducer. For accurate measurement, all fetal organs were measured at least 3 times. The diameter of head, orbit, trunk, long and short axis of heart, aorta, placentome, umbilical cord and umbilical vein were significantly increased with the gestational age (p<0.05). Of these parameters, trunk (r=0.8876; p<0.001), long axis of heart (r=0.9168; p<0.001) and short axis of heart (r=0.8819; p<0.001) proved to be the more effective measurements than other parameters, as it correlated well with gestational age. Results indicate that ultrasonic measurements of these parameters were useful methods to estimate gestational age in Korean black goat.
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 305-764, Korea.
authors.forename: Youngwon
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Okken
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jongki
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Hyunguk
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Yoonsuk
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Yonghee
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.forename: Wonil
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Heejae
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Doosoo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Gwansun
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sangtae
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006041:Goats / Q000196:embryology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000662:veterinary*