THREE-DIMENSIONAL (3D) ULTRASOUND INVESTIGATIONS FOR MONITORING OF THE SECOND AND THIRD PREGNANCY TRIMESTER IN GOATS

The purpose of this study was to determine the possibility of visualization of fetal and uterine structures in the second and third pregnancy trimester in goats through three-dimensional (3D) ultrasonography. Twenty Bulgarian local goats, aged between 2 and 4 years, weighing 46–52 kg with previously confirmed pregnancy were used in the study. Ultrasound investigations were performed during the 56 – 133 day of pregnancy, at a 2-week interval, via transabdominal approach and an 8.0 MHz linear transducer. Initially, the fetal and uterine structures were visualized in two-dimensional mode (B-mode), and then reconstructed into three-dimensional images using 3D software of the ultrasound machine (SonoScape S2 Vet). The results of this study have shown that 3D ultrasonography is a comparatively easy method to visualize individual parts of the fetus and its internal organs during the second and third pregnancy trimester. At the beginning of the second pregnancy trimester, it was possible visualization and differentiation of 3D ultrasound images of the fetal head and body. At the end of this period (90th day of pregnancy) is visualized clear outline of the skull of the fetus, as well as fetal orbit. During the last pregnancy trimester, internal fetal organs such as the forestomaches, kidneys, heart, ribs, etc. were visualized by 3D ultrasound examination. Throughout the study period, clearly 3D images of placentomes were visualized. The analysis of the obtained results shows that three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound examination of the fetal structures in the second and third pregnancy trimester in goats provides an opportunity for detailed observation of individual parts of the body and its internal organs. The resulting clear 3D images of fetal morphological structures can be used as a reference for early detection of embryo-fetal abnormalities.