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Abdominal pregnancies in farm rabbits
Pablo Segura Gil1, Bernat Peris Palau, Jorge Martínez Martínez
1Dpt. Atención Sanitaria, Salud Pública y Sanidad Animal (Histología y Anatomía Patológica), Facultad de Ciencias Experimentales y de la Salud, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, Edificio Seminario, s/n, 46113 Moncada, Valencia, Spain.
Theriogenology
|July 1, 2004
Summary
Abdominal pregnancy, the development of an embryo outside the uterus, is not rare in rabbits. Reproductive tract lesions were found in most diagnosed cases, suggesting a link to doe pathology.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Science
- Reproductive Biology
Background:
- Abdominal pregnancy, embryo implantation in the peritoneal cavity, is rare in many species.
- It is classified as primary (no uterine rupture) or secondary (uterine rupture).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the incidence and causes of abdominal pregnancy in New Zealand white rabbits.
- To assess the relationship between abdominal pregnancy and reproductive tract pathology.
Main Methods:
- Necropsy of 550 adult female rabbits from two farms in Valencia, Spain.
- Diagnosis of abdominal pregnancies and examination of reproductive tracts for lesions.
Main Results:
- Twenty-eight cases of abdominal pregnancy were diagnosed.
- Seven rabbits had no reproductive tract lesions; 21 had acute or chronic lesions.
- The study discusses primary vs. secondary abdominal pregnancy classification in rabbits.
Conclusions:
- Abdominal pregnancy may be more common in rabbits than previously thought.
- Reproductive tract pathology is frequently associated with abdominal pregnancy in does.
- Consider extrauterine pregnancies in rabbit doe pathology, especially with new husbandry like artificial insemination.