Age and treatment on the day of embryo transfer in recipient mares has effects

Age and treatment on the day of embryo transfer in recipient mares affect likelihood of pregnancy
Tierarztl Prax Ausg G Grosstiere Nutztiere. 2023 Dec;51(6):358-366. doi: 10.1055/a-2186-2693. Epub 2023 Dec 6.
Authors
Miguel Blanco 1 2 , Rob Foss 3 , Anna Tönißen 2 , Karl Rohn 4 , Dominik Burger 5 , Harald Sieme 2
Affiliations

1 Studfarm Lewitz – PS Pferdehaltung, Neustadt-Glewe, Germany.
2 Unit for Reproductive Medicine – Clinic for Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover, Foundation, Hanover, Germany.
3 Equine Medical Services, Columbia, MO, USA.
4 Institute for Veterinary Epidemiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hanover, Foundation, Germany.
5 Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine ISME, University of Berne, and Agroscope, Avenches, Switzerland.

PMID: 38056470
DOI: 10.1055/a-2186-2693

Abstract
in English, German

Objective: This retrospective evaluation of data from a large commercial embryo transfer facility aimed to determine the extent to which age and treatment on the day of embryo transfer in recipient mares influence the likelihood of pregnancy.

Material and methods: Embryo recovery was carried out on days 8-10 post-ovulation using transcervical uterine flushing. Recipient mares grouped according to their age were treated once on the day of embryo transfer (Day 3-8 post ovulation) and were assigned randomly to 1 of 3 groups: Mares in Group A (n=101) received antispasmodic, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory drugs. Mares in Group B (n=100) received gentamicin and flunixin meglumine. Group C (control) (n=103) did not receive any treatment. Detomidine (0.008 mg/kg bwt i.v.) was administered to all recipients before transfer of the embryo. The influence of treatment and recipient´s age was calculated using binary logistic regression.

Results: Day 16 post-transfer pregnancy rates were highest in Group A (74/101, 73.3a%), when compared to Group B (60/100, 60%), and Group C (57/103, 55.3b%) (a vs b, p<0.05). Pregnancy loss rates at D45 were not different between groups, A (8/74, 10.8%), B (5/60, 8.3%), and C (6/57, 10.5%), respectively (p>0.05). Pregnancy losses were increased in recipient mares 17-22 years (33.3a%) compared to younger recipient mares (2-6 years 7b%, 7-11 years 10%, 12-16 years 8b%) (a:b p<0.05). The regression model showed that the predicted probability for pregnancy after embryo transfer decreased as the age of the recipient mare increased for treated recipients in Group A (p=0.012), there was no effect of treatment and recipient´s age in Group B, and a decreased likelihood of pregnancy in recipients of advanced age (≥12 years of age) in untreated recipients (group C).

Conclusions and clinical relevance: Likelihood of pregnancy increased following single administration of antispasmodic, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory drugs at the time of embryo transfer in recipients 2-12 years of age. Likelihood of pregnancy in recipients decreased in recipients≥12 years of age. These results, obtained under the conditions of a large commercial embryo transfer program, offer an opportunity to improve pregnancy rates in recipient mares≤12 years of age.