Sonographic Fetal Death in Goats in Khartoum State, Sudan: A Cross-Sectional Study

In order to determine the prevalence of fetal mortality and investigate hypothesized risk factors associated with its occurrence in goats, 962 female goats were studied using ultrasound. To diagnose pregnancy and to identify dead fetuses, ultrasound scanning was conducted using real-time machines equipped with a transabdominal curvilinear probe. A questionnaire was supplied for collection of signalment and sampling data. Ultrasound examination revealed that out of 962 female goats, 431 (44.8%) goats were diagnosed as nonpregnant, 88 (9.14%) were pseudopregnant, 4 (0.42%) were diagnosed as having pyometra, and 439 were diagnosed as pregnant (45.63%). Of the 439 pregnant goats, 36 were diagnosed as bearing dead fetuses (8.2%). Season of the year, locality, breed of the dam, age of the dam, parity number, breed of the buck, and feeding type were all found not to be significantly associated with fetal death. It is concluded that ultrasound is a reliable method for diagnosis of fetal death and documenting the prevalence of its occurrence in goats.