Management methods 
-Failure to return to oestrus which should commence 16 days 
after service and continue for a further 6 days. 
False positives will occur: 
● if the mare has a silent heat, a common problem when the 
foal is at foot 
● if the mare becomes anoestrous as a result of lactation or 
environmental factors 
● if the mare has a prolonged dioestrus yet has not conceived 
● if the mare has a prolonged luteal phase associated with 
embryonic death; this is referred to as ‘pseudopregnancy 
False negatives will occur in a few mares which will show 
oestrus at this time although they are pregnant.
Vaginal examination. 
The vaginal mucosa is pale pink, the mucus is scant and 
sticky, and the cervix small and tightly closed. 
False positives can occur in early pregnancy because the 
vagina is indistinguishable from that seen in dioestrus. Errors 
can also be made as a result of prolonged luteal phase and 
pseudopregnancy.
Follicles are normally present during the first 3 months of 
gestation. 
Uterine tone 
is marked at 17–21 days of pregnancy, when the uterine cornua can be 
palpated as resilient tubular organs. If no conceptual swelling is 
palpable, then this tone should only be interpreted as suggestive of 
pregnancy. The uterine body and non-pregnant horn remain tonic until at 
least day 50 of gestation. Marked uterine tone may also be found in: the 
puerperal mare covered at the foal heat; acute endometritis; and 
pseudopregnancy, that is when early embryonic death is followed by 
autolysis or expulsion of the conceptus but the uterus retains the texture 
of pregnancy because of the persistent CL.
is first possible at 17–21 days, when it is a small soft swelling 
of 2.4–2.8 cm in diameter or is an apparent ‘gap’ 
It is more easily felt between 21 and 30 days, but still only the 
cranioventral portion of the distension can be appreciated. 
At 25 days, the conceptual swelling is 3–3.4 cm. 
At 30 days, its dorsoventral diameter is 3–4 cm. 
At 35 days, it is 4.5–6 cm and 
At 40 days 6–7 cm in diameter –about the size of a tennis ball. 
By 60 days, it is becoming oval in shape and measures approximately 13 
× 9 cm, whilst by 90 days it has increased to approximately 23 × 14 cm. 
Twin conceptuses can be identified up to 60 days.
The chorionic vesicle is distinct and spherical and approximate 
sizes are: 
28 d (4 wks) pullet egg 
35 d (5 wks) lemon 
42 d (6 wks) orange 
49 d (7 wks) grapefruit 
56 d (8 wks) cantaloupe 
-By 90 d it is hard to delineate the cranial margin of uterus. 
-Fetal Ballotment per rectum becomes consistent after 150d. 
-Aging fetus by size, as in the cow, is imprecise.
False positive results by rectal palpation can be obtained 
either when, in rare instances, it is pyometra, or when, in 
the very early stages, the uterine tone due to incomplete 
involution might be assumed to be due to pregnancy in 
mares which have been served at the foal heat, and in 
those that have developed a pseudopregnancy. It should 
also be remembered that mares may suffer embryonic or 
fetal death with resorption or abortion after they have 
been confirmed pregnant. 
False negative results can be obtained if there is confusion 
over the service date, i.e. later than the one recorded, or if 
the uterus is not palpated completely.
Laboratory methods 
Milk or blood progesterone
Blood or milk samples collected 16–22 days after service 
should have elevated progestogen concentrations in pregnant 
mares, whilst in non-pregnant mares the levels would be low 
and typical of those obtained at oestrus. 
False positive results occur with a prolonged luteal phase, and, 
in general, the method is not very reliable.
Identification of eCG. 
-Blood samples should be collected, preferably between 50 
and 90 days after service, although it is possible to identify the 
hormone between 40 and 120 days. The test is performed on 
serum. 
-The most frequently used method was the injection of serum 
into 3/ 1–2 -week-old immature mice, a positive result being 
the production of ripe follicles in the ovaries and the presence 
of a swollen enlarged uterus.
False negative results are obtained if the blood sample is taken 
either too early or too late, and for this reason it is important to 
sample at the optimum times stated above. Some mares 
produce low levels of eCG that are briefly sustained and which 
cannot be detected using the method. 
False positive results are obtained as a result of embryonic or 
fetal death, either after the blood sample was collected or in 
some cases before. Once the endometrial cups have formed, 
they will persist and still secrete eCG, even if the fetus has 
died.
Blood oestrogens 
A method of detecting pregnancy by determining the 
concentration of total oestrogens in the peripheral blood 
By 85 days of gestation the concentration should exceed 
the maximum values obtained in non-pregnant mares. 
Urinary oestrogens 
Oestrogens (oestrone and oestradiol-17β) are present in 
the urine of pregnant mares in sufficient amounts for 
accurate detection by a chemical method between 150 and 
300 days of gestation.
Early pregnancy factor (EPF) is an 
immunosuppressive glycoprotein associated 
with early pregnancy, Using the rosette 
inhibition test it has been possible to detect the 
presence of EPF in the serum from peripheral 
blood from as early as 7–10 days after ovulation
Mare
Mare
Mare
Mare
Mare
Mare
Mare
Mare
Mare

Methods of pregnancy diagnosis in mare

  • 2.
    Management methods -Failureto return to oestrus which should commence 16 days after service and continue for a further 6 days. False positives will occur: ● if the mare has a silent heat, a common problem when the foal is at foot ● if the mare becomes anoestrous as a result of lactation or environmental factors ● if the mare has a prolonged dioestrus yet has not conceived ● if the mare has a prolonged luteal phase associated with embryonic death; this is referred to as ‘pseudopregnancy False negatives will occur in a few mares which will show oestrus at this time although they are pregnant.
  • 3.
    Vaginal examination. Thevaginal mucosa is pale pink, the mucus is scant and sticky, and the cervix small and tightly closed. False positives can occur in early pregnancy because the vagina is indistinguishable from that seen in dioestrus. Errors can also be made as a result of prolonged luteal phase and pseudopregnancy.
  • 4.
    Follicles are normallypresent during the first 3 months of gestation. Uterine tone is marked at 17–21 days of pregnancy, when the uterine cornua can be palpated as resilient tubular organs. If no conceptual swelling is palpable, then this tone should only be interpreted as suggestive of pregnancy. The uterine body and non-pregnant horn remain tonic until at least day 50 of gestation. Marked uterine tone may also be found in: the puerperal mare covered at the foal heat; acute endometritis; and pseudopregnancy, that is when early embryonic death is followed by autolysis or expulsion of the conceptus but the uterus retains the texture of pregnancy because of the persistent CL.
  • 5.
    is first possibleat 17–21 days, when it is a small soft swelling of 2.4–2.8 cm in diameter or is an apparent ‘gap’ It is more easily felt between 21 and 30 days, but still only the cranioventral portion of the distension can be appreciated. At 25 days, the conceptual swelling is 3–3.4 cm. At 30 days, its dorsoventral diameter is 3–4 cm. At 35 days, it is 4.5–6 cm and At 40 days 6–7 cm in diameter –about the size of a tennis ball. By 60 days, it is becoming oval in shape and measures approximately 13 × 9 cm, whilst by 90 days it has increased to approximately 23 × 14 cm. Twin conceptuses can be identified up to 60 days.
  • 6.
    The chorionic vesicleis distinct and spherical and approximate sizes are: 28 d (4 wks) pullet egg 35 d (5 wks) lemon 42 d (6 wks) orange 49 d (7 wks) grapefruit 56 d (8 wks) cantaloupe -By 90 d it is hard to delineate the cranial margin of uterus. -Fetal Ballotment per rectum becomes consistent after 150d. -Aging fetus by size, as in the cow, is imprecise.
  • 7.
    False positive resultsby rectal palpation can be obtained either when, in rare instances, it is pyometra, or when, in the very early stages, the uterine tone due to incomplete involution might be assumed to be due to pregnancy in mares which have been served at the foal heat, and in those that have developed a pseudopregnancy. It should also be remembered that mares may suffer embryonic or fetal death with resorption or abortion after they have been confirmed pregnant. False negative results can be obtained if there is confusion over the service date, i.e. later than the one recorded, or if the uterus is not palpated completely.
  • 8.
    Laboratory methods Milkor blood progesterone
  • 9.
    Blood or milksamples collected 16–22 days after service should have elevated progestogen concentrations in pregnant mares, whilst in non-pregnant mares the levels would be low and typical of those obtained at oestrus. False positive results occur with a prolonged luteal phase, and, in general, the method is not very reliable.
  • 10.
    Identification of eCG. -Blood samples should be collected, preferably between 50 and 90 days after service, although it is possible to identify the hormone between 40 and 120 days. The test is performed on serum. -The most frequently used method was the injection of serum into 3/ 1–2 -week-old immature mice, a positive result being the production of ripe follicles in the ovaries and the presence of a swollen enlarged uterus.
  • 11.
    False negative resultsare obtained if the blood sample is taken either too early or too late, and for this reason it is important to sample at the optimum times stated above. Some mares produce low levels of eCG that are briefly sustained and which cannot be detected using the method. False positive results are obtained as a result of embryonic or fetal death, either after the blood sample was collected or in some cases before. Once the endometrial cups have formed, they will persist and still secrete eCG, even if the fetus has died.
  • 12.
    Blood oestrogens Amethod of detecting pregnancy by determining the concentration of total oestrogens in the peripheral blood By 85 days of gestation the concentration should exceed the maximum values obtained in non-pregnant mares. Urinary oestrogens Oestrogens (oestrone and oestradiol-17β) are present in the urine of pregnant mares in sufficient amounts for accurate detection by a chemical method between 150 and 300 days of gestation.
  • 13.
    Early pregnancy factor(EPF) is an immunosuppressive glycoprotein associated with early pregnancy, Using the rosette inhibition test it has been possible to detect the presence of EPF in the serum from peripheral blood from as early as 7–10 days after ovulation
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