MONITORING OF EMBRYONIC AND FETAL DEVELOPMENT USING REAL TIME ‘B’ MODE ULTRASOUND IN BUFFALO (Bubalus bubalis)

The present study was conducted in buffaloes which were maintained at experimental animal sheds of Animal Reproduction Division, IVRI, Izatnagar. All the experimental buffaloes (n=6) were observed for onset of estrus using a teaser bull and visual signs of estrus followed by rectal examination twice daily. Animals detected in estrus were inseminated using frozen semen of Murrah buffalo. The inseminated buffaloes were allowed for real time B-mode ultrasonographic examination at 10 days interval starting from day 20 to 120 of pregnancy. Monitoring of embryonic development was carried out by viewing embryonic vesicle diameter (EVD), Crown Rump length (CRL), embryonic heartbeat, skull and placentome through ultrasonography. The mean diameter of EV was 0.52±0.12, 1.56±0.16, 2.94±0.07, 3.80±0.14 and 6.37±0.15 cm on day 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 of pregnancy, respectively. EVD increased with advancement of pregnancy and reached around 6.37±0.15 cm on day 60 of pregnancy. The CRL was 0.73±0.05, 1.45±0.55, 2.13±0.05 and 3.24±0.10 cm on day 30, 40, 50 and 60 of pregnancy, respectively. The mean heart rate was 197.33±4.60, 173.16±1.55, 162.33±1.20, 155.33±1.60, 152.16±2.58 and 146.66±2.40 per minute on days 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 and 120 of pregnancy, respectively. The heart rate was significantly (P<0.01) higher on day 50 of pregnancy, thereafter, it decreased with advancement of pregnancy. The mean diameter of skull  was 2.33±0.18,   2.90±0.12, 3.52±0.19   and   4.58±0.22 cm on days 60, 70, 80 and 90 of pregnancy, respectively. The skull diameter increased with the advancement of pregnancy. The accessibility of skull or head was very difficult as the pregnancy advanced into mid of the second trimester. The mean diameter of placentome increased with the advancement of pregnancy i.e. 0.38±0.01, 0.64±0.14, 1.05±0.07 and 1.26±0.08 cm on days 70, 80, 90 and 120 of pregnancy, respectively. The present study indicated use of Real time B mode transrectal ultrasonography in buffalo for early diagnosis of pregnancy, embryonic development and its viability by viewing embryonic vesicle, embryo, embryonic heart beat and other structures.