title: Diagnostic techniques for transvaginal-transuterine aspiration of bovine fetal fluid during the early fetal period.
abstract: Studies were designed to evaluate 2 methods for transvaginal-transuterine collection of bovine fetal fluids. The first technique (direct) required simultaneous transrectal palpation and retraction of the gravid uterus and direct, intravaginal manipulation of a needle and vacuum tube assembly. The direct technique was only suitable for use in multiparous animals and was attempted when fetal age ranged from Day 55 to Day 75. The second technique (indirect) may be used in primiparous cows, because aspiration was accomplished through a plastic infusion pipet, altered by attachment of a needle to its tip. When this technique was used, fetal age ranged from Day 50 to Day 65. The direct technique provided more control over needle placement and resulted in a higher success rate for aspiration of fetal fluid following single needle penetration (77 versus 50%). Both techniques were associated with rates of abortion (3/13 for the direct and 4/10 for the indirect) that were judged to preclude prospective use in diagnostic strategies for first trimester fetal wastage. Within the controlled study, the diagnostic quality of the aspirate was determined. It was concluded that the altered pipet technique provided aspirates that were of diagnostic, noncontaminated quality. Field use of fetal fluid aspiration following discovery of nonviable pregnancies by B-mode ultrasonography is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Sprecher
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Kaneene