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Veterinary Sciences
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Environmental Impact on the Reproductive Parameters of Domestic Animals
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Environmental Impact on the Reproductive Parameters of Domestic Animals

A special issue of Veterinary Sciences (ISSN 2306-7381). This special issue belongs to the section "Veterinary Reproduction and Obstetrics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 July 2024 | Viewed by 7427

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Debora Groppetti

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Milan, Via dell’ Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy
Interests: small animal reproduction; gynecology; andrology and obstetric; environmental impact on reproduction; neonatology; fetal biometry and pregnancy monitoring; mammary tumors; acupuncture in veterinary reproduction; sexual development

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The planet's environmental conditions are attracting more and more attention in public opinion. Particularly concerning consequences on human and animal health are due to changes in the climate and pollution exposure. It is well known that global warming and environmental pollutants, e.g., plastic derivatives such as endocrine disruptor chemicals, besides to acting as predisposing factors for certain types of disfunctions and tumors, also negatively affect reproductive processes. In fact, environment can interfere with the development of sperm, oocytes, fetus and placenta, resulting in reduced pregnancy rate, subfertility and cryptorchidism. Despite its relevance, to date only few studies in animals focused on this topic. To fill the gap, this Special Issue aims to gather scientific evidence on the environmental impact on the reproductive parameters of domestic animals (both of zootechnical interest or pet), allowing for a better understanding of the risks related to environmental exposure on fertility. An increasing awareness of potential environmental hazards can contribute to implement strategies to mitigate their effects on animals which in turn can represent a study model for humans.

Dr. Debora Groppetti
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Veterinary Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • environment
  • reproduction
  • ferility
  • cryptorchidism
  • pollution
  • endocrine disruptor chemicals
  • phthalates
  • bisphenol
  • plastic
  • season
  • temperature
  • umidity
  • sheep
  • goat
  • cattle
  • dog
  • cat
  • horse
  • pig

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 2123 KiB  
Article
Plasma γ-Aminobutyric Acid (GABA) Concentrations in Lactating Holstein Cows during Thermoneutral and Heat Stress Conditions and Their Relationships with Circulating Glucose, Insulin and Progesterone Levels
by Alicia G. Arneson, Jacob W. Stewart, MaryKate H. Byrd, George A. Perry and Michelle L. Rhoads
Vet. Sci. 2024, 11(3), 137; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci11030137 - 21 Mar 2024
Viewed by 1505
Abstract
Heat-stressed lactating dairy cattle exhibit unique metabolic symptoms, many of which are undoubtedly involved in heat-induced subfertility. Because of its known systemic effects, we hypothesized that γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) participates in the regulation of insulin and progesterone during heat stress. Multiparous lactating Holstein [...] Read more.
Heat-stressed lactating dairy cattle exhibit unique metabolic symptoms, many of which are undoubtedly involved in heat-induced subfertility. Because of its known systemic effects, we hypothesized that γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) participates in the regulation of insulin and progesterone during heat stress. Multiparous lactating Holstein cows (n = 6) were studied during four experimental periods: (1) thermoneutral (TN; d 1–5), (2) TN + hyperinsulinemic–hypoglycemic clamp (d 6–10), (3) heat stress (HS; d 16–20), and (4) HS + euglycemic clamp (d 21–25). Blood samples were collected once daily via coccygeal venipuncture into heparinized evacuated tubes. Analysis of GABA concentrations from all four treatment periods yielded no differences. In direct comparison to TN concentrations, plasma GABA tended to decrease during the HS period (16.57 ± 2.64 vs. 13.87 ± 2.28 ng/mL, respectively, p = 0.06). Both milk production and plasma insulin were moderately correlated with plasma GABA (r = 0.35, p < 0.01; r = −0.32, p < 0.01). Plasma progesterone was correlated with plasma GABA concentrations during TN but not HS periods. These results are the first to indicate that peripheral GABA could be involved in the regulation of factors known to affect production and reproduction during heat stress. More research is needed to determine its precise role(s). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Impact on the Reproductive Parameters of Domestic Animals)
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12 pages, 1325 KiB  
Article
Locomotion Score and Postpartum Conception in Jersey Cows Raised under Hot–Humid Tropical Conditions: A Prospective Study
by Karina Vilés, Andrés García, Octavio Rugel and Nahim Jorgge
Vet. Sci. 2024, 11(3), 102; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci11030102 - 27 Feb 2024
Viewed by 2113
Abstract
Reproductive physiology is one of the first systems which is altered when an animal suffers from an imbalance. This is crucial in tropical dairy farming, where maintaining homeostasis and production is particularly demanding. Lameness is a disorder commonly identified by impaired walking, but [...] Read more.
Reproductive physiology is one of the first systems which is altered when an animal suffers from an imbalance. This is crucial in tropical dairy farming, where maintaining homeostasis and production is particularly demanding. Lameness is a disorder commonly identified by impaired walking, but its early diagnosis could reduce the negative repercussions on production, welfare, and postpartum conception. To evaluate the effect of lameness on postpartum conception, a prospective observational cohort study with a cross-sectional design was developed. Fifty-two Jersey milking cows raised under hot–humid tropical conditions were scored using a five-point locomotion scoring (LS) system (1—non-lame, 2—slightly lame, 3—moderately lame, 4—lame, and 5—severely lame), considering scores ≥ 3 to indicate clinical lameness. Inseminations per conception and days open (CCI) were registered. Inseminations were similar in animals scoring 1, 2, 3, and 5, while they increased in cows with a score of 4, which also increased their CCI along with animals that scored 5. Positive correlations were observed between LS and reproductive variables. The herd’s conception rate was reduced from 45% to 21.8% in the presence of clinical lameness (score ≥ 3). Applying the LS system should be essential as part of routine medical examinations used to monitor dairy herds, and it becomes even more crucial under hot–humid tropical environments, where adverse conditions could rapidly aggravate the early stages of lameness and not only increase the costs of hoof care, but also delay fertility in cattle. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Impact on the Reproductive Parameters of Domestic Animals)
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9 pages, 507 KiB  
Article
The Effect of Month and District on 100-Day In-Calf Rate in Year-Round Calving Dairy Herds
by Isabella S. C. Rynia, John K. House and Luke Ingenhoff
Vet. Sci. 2023, 10(9), 550; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci10090550 - 02 Sep 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 988
Abstract
Monitoring 100-day in-calf rate (100DICR) is an integral part of the assessment of reproductive performance in year-round calving dairy herds. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of month on 100DICR in year-round calving herds in New South Wales (NSW), [...] Read more.
Monitoring 100-day in-calf rate (100DICR) is an integral part of the assessment of reproductive performance in year-round calving dairy herds. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of month on 100DICR in year-round calving herds in New South Wales (NSW), Australia and determine whether a fluctuating 100DICR target is an appropriate alternative to a constant 100DICR target. The 100DICR is defined as the percentage of all current lactating cows over 100 days in milk (DIM) that conceive on or before 100 DIM. As dairy cows are typically dried off 7 months after conception, 100DICR was an approximate 7-month rolling average. Mean monthly 100DICRs were calculated with a generalised linear model for six NSW north coast herds located 15–140 km from the coast and four NSW south coast herds located less than 10 km from the coast, over a two-year period. The mean 100DICR was lowest in May at 28.62% (95%CI 28.31–28.93) and increased during winter and spring, peaking in December at 34.74% (95%CI 34.32–35.15). The observed trend was similar for north and south coast herds, although north coast herds experienced a greater change in 100DICR from the peak to a nadir of 27.58% (95%CI 27.18–27.98), a 7.15-point difference, compared to south coast herds with a nadir of 30.18% (95%CI 29.69–30.67), a 4.67-point difference between the peak and nadir. In conclusion, 100DICR is affected by month with the lowest 100DICRs observed in late autumn and the highest 100DICRs observed in late spring and early summer. Therefore, a fluctuating target 100DICR is an appropriate alternative to a constant target when assessing reproductive performance in year-round calving herds. While the district does not affect mean 100DICR per se, the district does affect the difference between peak and nadir 100DICR. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Impact on the Reproductive Parameters of Domestic Animals)
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11 pages, 1124 KiB  
Article
Tobacco Smoke Exposure in Pregnant Dogs: Maternal and Newborn Cotinine Levels: A Pilot Study
by Giulia Pizzi, Silvia Michela Mazzola, Alessandro Pecile, Valerio Bronzo and Debora Groppetti
Vet. Sci. 2023, 10(5), 321; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci10050321 - 28 Apr 2023
Viewed by 1725
Abstract
Active and passive smoking in pregnant women is associated with perinatal morbidity and mortality risk, including abortion, preterm birth, low birthweight, and malformations. No data are available on intrauterine exposure to smoking during pregnancy in dogs. This study aimed to fill this gap [...] Read more.
Active and passive smoking in pregnant women is associated with perinatal morbidity and mortality risk, including abortion, preterm birth, low birthweight, and malformations. No data are available on intrauterine exposure to smoking during pregnancy in dogs. This study aimed to fill this gap by exploring the detectability and quantity of cotinine, the major metabolite of nicotine, in maternal (serum and hair) and newborn (amniotic fluid and hair) biospecimens collected at birth in dogs. For this purpose, twelve pregnant bitches, six exposed to the owner’s smoke and six unexposed, were enrolled. A further six non-pregnant bitches exposed to passive smoke were included to investigate the role of pregnancy status on cotinine uptake. Exposed dogs, dams, and puppies had greater cotinine concentrations than unexposed ones. Although without statistical significance, serum and hair cotinine concentrations were higher in pregnant compared to non-pregnant bitches, suggesting a different sensitivity to tobacco smoke exposure during gestation. The present results provide evidence for cotinine transplacental passage in the dog. It is conceivable that fragile patients such as pregnant, lactating, and neonate dogs may be more susceptible to the harmful effects of second-hand smoke exposure. Owners should be sensitized to the risk of smoke exposure for their pets. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Impact on the Reproductive Parameters of Domestic Animals)
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