An Echotextural Evaluation of the Uterus Endometrium in the Early Diagnosis of Pregnancy in Awassi Sheep

The aim of this study was to evaluate the uterus echotexture in the early diagnosis of pregnancy of Awassi sheep and to investigate the utility of this data in routine pregnancy examinations. It was also aimed to clarify the relationship between the echotextural parameters and progesterone (P4) hormone in this period. A total of 40 Awassi sheep were used in the study, as Group 1 (n:20) not pregnant sheep, and Group 2 (n:20) pregnant sheep. Transrectal ultrasonography was applied on days 4, 7, 10, 13, 15, 16, and 17 after insemination and the uterus tissue images were recorded. Blood samples were taken for the measurement of progesterone hormone. Measurements were taken on the uterus ultrasonographic images of the mean grayness value (MGV), homogeneity (HOM), and contrast (CON). In the statistical analyses of the data, repeated measurements were examined with variance analysis and the Pearson test. There was seen to be a time-related significant difference in the echotexture parameters within the groups of the pregnant and non-pregnant sheep in respect of the MGV, HOM, and CON values (P<0.05). The MGV and HOM values on all the days when measurements were taken after insemination were determined to be significantly higher in the non-pregnant sheep compared to the pregnant group (P<0.001). The CON value was determined to be significantly higher in the pregnant sheep than the non-pregnant sheep on all the days when measurements were taken after insemination (P<0.001). A time-related statistically significant difference was seen in the serum P4 measurement within the groups of pregnant and non-pregnant sheep (P<0.001) and the measurements were determined to be higher in the pregnant sheep (P<0.001). A significant negative correlation was determined between P4 and MGV, and between P4 and HOM, and a significant positive corrrelation between P4 and CON. There was concluded to be a significant difference between the pregnant and non-pregnant sheep in respect of the echotextural evaluation of the uterus and the measurement of P4 hormone. In sheep farming, the early determination of pregnancy and early determination of sheep that are not pregnant allows the opportunity for repeat mating, and computer-assisted image analysis in the evaluation of changes occurring in the uterus can be used as an assistive method for providing additional nutrition for pregnant sheep.