Aglepristone and cloprostenol combination in the termination of late-term pregnancy in queens.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Termination rates for the highly recommended aglepristone (AGL) treatment are low in late-term pregnancy in queens. We studied the effects of an AGL and cloprostenol (CLO) combination in the termination of late-term pregnancy. METHODS: Pregnant queens were assigned to two groups. Queens in the AGL group (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;10) received AGL 10&#x2009;mg/kg, twice, 24&#x2009;h apart. Queens in the AGL-CLO group (n&#x2009;=&#x2009;9) were additionally injected with a single dose of CLO (5&#x2009;&#x3bc;g/kg) 24&#x2009;h after the second dose of AGL. Progesterone, 17beta(&#x3b2;)-oestradiol, cortisol, oxytocin and prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2&#x3b1;) metabolite were measured in sera obtained at days 0, 1 and 2, and on the day of abortion. RESULTS: Average gestational age in both groups was similar (AGL 38.61&#x2009;&#xb1;&#x2009;0.91 days vs AGL-CLO 39.39&#x2009;&#xb1;&#x2009;1.35 days;>0.05). Termination rates were 80% and 100% in the AGL and AGL-CLO groups, respectively (<0.05). Fetal expulsion time was significantly longer (<0.001) in the AGL group (96.9&#x2009;&#xb1;&#x2009;6&#x2009;h) compared with the AGL-CLO group (69.8&#x2009;&#xb1;&#x2009;3.3&#x2009;h). Duration of abortion was 19.8&#x2009;&#xb1;&#x2009;2.6&#x2009;h and 12.6&#x2009;&#xb1;&#x2009;1.4&#x2009;h in the AGL and AGL-CLO groups, respectively (<0.05). Both treatments were well tolerated. Significantly (<0.05) lower serum progesterone concentrations were observed in both groups at the day of abortion and concentrations in the AGL-CLO group (4.19&#x2009;&#xb1; 0.80&#x2009;ng/ml) were lower than in the AGL group (9.89&#x2009;&#xb1;&#x2009;2.21&#x2009;ng/ml;<0.05). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: AGL and CLO combination increases pregnancy termination rate in late-term pregnant queens. In addition, CLO contributes to a decrease in luteal function in AGL-treated late-term pregnant queens.