A study of piglets born by spontaneous parturition under uncontrolled conditions: could this be a naturalistic model for the study of intrapartum asphyxia?
In order to evaluate how spontaneously born piglets could be a suitable model for the study of intrapartum hypoxia, 230 newborn piglets were studied. Out them, 8.3% (n = 19) died intrapartum, 21.7% (n = 50) were born with moderate-to-severe intrapartum hypoxia, and 70% (n = 161) were born with mild or no evidence of intrapartum distress. Piglets born without any evidence of intrapartum asphyxia weighed approximately 240 g lower than those born with intrapartum hypoxia and intrapartum-dead piglets (P<0.0001). The viability score was approximately 3 units lower and the latency to contact the udder was two times longer in the piglets surviving intrapartum hypoxia than in controls (P <0.0001). In comparison with the control group, metabolic acidosis was most severe among intrapartum-dead piglets followed by piglets surviving intrapartum asphyxia (P =0.002). According to a multiple linear regression analysis, pCO2 and lactate blood levels, and birth weight were identified as explanatory variables of viability score (r: 0.78; P <0.001). Viability score, K+ and lactate blood levels, and birth weight were identified as explanatory variables of latency to contact the udder (r: 0.80; P <0.001). In conclusion, the spontaneously-born asphyxiated piglet could be considered as a naturalistic model for the study of intrapartum asphyxia. Histopathologic and more rigorous functional and behavioral evaluations are still required to further characterize the model. (www.actabiomedica.it)
Department of Animal Medicine and Production: Swine, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Production, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, México.
Maria E
ME
Trujillo-Ortega
Daniel
D
Mota-Rojas
Adriana
A
Olmos-Hernández
María
M
Alonso-Spilsbury
Miguel
M
González
Héctor
H
Orozco
Ramiro
R
Ramírez-Necoechea
Alejandro A
AA
Nava-Ocampo
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001238:Asphyxia Neonatorum; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D036801:Parturition; D013552:Swine