Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Hydrallantois in the mare--a report of five cases.
- Journal:
- Reproduction in domestic animals = Zuchthygiene
- Year:
- 2013
- Authors:
- Govaere, J L J et al.
- Affiliation:
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
Hydrallantois is a rare condition that affects pregnant mares, and this report discusses five cases where it occurred alongside placentitis, which is an inflammation of the placenta. The mares showed signs like a swollen belly, trouble breathing, a stiff way of walking, and eating less than usual. To treat the condition, the excess fluid was gradually removed, and this led to the mares having abortions, with the foals either being stillborn or euthanized. The mares themselves recovered quickly, with one becoming pregnant again later that same season, while another did not conceive after several attempts. The report also notes that two Shetland ponies experienced this condition, which caused high levels of fat in their blood, and highlights the potential link between placentitis and hydrallantois.
Abstract
Hydrallantois in the mare is a very rare condition, and clinical reports help to gather information to elucidate its pathogenesis, treatment options and prognosis. Five different cases of hydrallantois in the mare are reported in this article, all with the involvement of placentitis. The five mares were presented because of acute distention of the abdomen, dyspnoea, stiff gait and a lack of appetite. After a gradual release of the excessive amount of allantoic fluid, an abortion was induced in all five mares. The foals were either born dead or euthanized. The mares recovered quickly. One mare conceived within the same season, one remained barren despite several cycles of natural breeding, and no data were available on the other three mares. In this series, the condition is reported for the first time in two Shetland ponies, both pregnant with foals sharing a close genetic background. In both cases, the condition led to hyperlipidemia. The condition as it occurs in nulliparous mares is also discussed. Finally, the possible involvement of placentitis in the pathogenesis is emphasized.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23317156/