Animals : an open access journal from MDPI

Fetal loss, the spontaneous termination of pregnancy between day 42 and 260 of gestation, is poorly understood. Impacts of fetal loss include loss of production, increased health risk, and economic loss. The aims of this study were to ident…

In the last decades, major changes in ecosystems related to industrial development and environmental modifications have had a direct impact on mammalian fertility, as well as on biodiversity. It is widely demonstrated that all these changes…

This study investigated common diagnoses from surgical biopsies of domestic rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculi) in Taiwan and examined the role of leporipoxvirus in tumor pathogenesis. Biopsy specimens from 70 rabbits collected between 2014 and …

The endometrial immune response in postpartum cows is key to maintaining uterine health and preventing inflammatory diseases such as metritis and endometritis. Appropriate management strategies and diets that enhance the immune response are…

This study aimed to investigate the effects of oxidative stress and antioxidant activity in plasma and uterine fluid during early postpartum on the reproductive performance of Japanese Black cows. A total of 17 Japanese Black cows were incl…

This study analyzes 324 captive giant panda breeding events (1998-2023) to unravel maternal and gestational drivers of cub survival and health-the largest dataset of its kind to date. Key variables included gestational duration, maternal ag…

In the early postpartum period, dairy cows undergo significant adaptations in Ca and lipid metabolism, immune function, and inflammatory processes. Concurrent exposure to endotoxins from the uterus, gastrointestinal tract, or mammary gland …

In sheep production, due to the limitations of breeding conditions, the uteri of ewes are often infected with bacteria, resulting in the failure of embryo implantation or loss, causing huge losses to the sheep industry. Therefore, in this s…

During the preimplantation period, the nutrition of the embryo is dependent on luminal secretions of the uterus, which can be modified by the health status of the animal. The aim of this study was to mimic the paracrine communication betwee…

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) hold significant therapeutic potential in veterinary medicine due to their regenerative and immunomodulatory properties. This review examines the clinical applications of MSCs across multiple animal species, in…

The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the prevalence of ovarian cysts in bitches and queens, to classify cyst subtypes, and to evaluate diagnostic and therapeutic strategies reported in the …

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), an autologous blood product concentrated with platelets and their associated growth factors, has been the subject of increasing investigation in veterinary medicine. Although it is widely used in domestic species…

Uterine diseases stand as the primary cause of infertility in mares; however, the diagnostic process often relies on obtaining endometrial biopsies and their hematoxylin-eosin staining. This review seeks to present the variability of uterin…

Coagulopathy is common in equine critical illness, with its early recognition being crucial for patient management and prognosis. In vitro viscoelastic (VE) hypercoagulability with decreased RCM/PCV has been demonstrated in dogs but not hor…

Melatonin plays a critical role in regulating embryo attachment in ruminants. While numerous studies have investigated its effects on early embryo development in vitro, the precise mechanisms by which melatonin influences the receptivity of…

Reproductive disorders in donkeys present a significant challenge to their health and welfare, impacting their roles in agriculture, conservation, and companionship. With the development of large-scale donkey farming in recent years, reprod…

The aim of the present study was to evaluate selenium content in the gonads of healthy cats and those with impaired homeostasis with the use of fluorescence spectroscopy. Higher concentrations of selenium were found in the gonads of the mal…

Recently, the therapeutic potential of extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has been extensively studied in both human and veterinary medicine. EVs are nano-sized particles containing biological components…

This study aimed to investigate the effect of antihypertensive drugs on reproductive function in Rattus norvegicus and demonstrate the potential role of oxidative stress in reproductive dysfunction. Rattus norvegicus were selected as the ex…

Reports on UCF in animals are still lacking in veterinary literature. Detailed clinical signs, laboratory findings, and follow-up information from the first cases of UCF in two ewes and two cows are provided. The cases occurred over a 12-ye…

Endometrosis negatively affects endometrial function and fertility in mares, due to excessive deposition of type I (COL1) and type III (COL3) collagens. The pro-fibrotic transforming growth factor (TGF-β1) induces myofibroblast differentiat…

Previous studies have screened key candidate genes for litter size in sheep, including fibrillin-1 (FBN1), family with sequence similarity 184 member B (FAM184B) and zinc finger and AT-hook domain containing (ZFAT). Therefore, it is necessa…

The bovine endometrium has an important defensive role in the postpartum period that acts when an inflammatory process associated with tissue damage or infection by bacteria is produced. Endometrial cells release cytokines and chemokines th…

As one of the most critical economic traits, the litter performance of sows is influenced by their parity. Some studies have indicated a connection between the gut microbiota and the litter performance of animals. In this study, we examined…