Usability of Pregnancy-Associated Glycoprotein Concentration in Early Diagnosis of Ringwomb in Sheep

This study evaluated the utility of serum pregnancy-associated glycoprotein (PAG) concentration for the early diagnosis of cervical dilatation failure (ringwomb) before parturition in sheep during late pregnancy. The study used twenty-four singleton pregnant Awassi sheep. The sheep were divided into two groups according to whether they developed dystocia due to ringwomb or not. The control group (Group 1, n=17) consisted of healthy sheep that gave birth without any intervention, and the ringwomb group (Group 2, n=7) consisted of sheep that had dystocia due to ringwomb. Blood samples were taken from all sheep on the 140th and 145th days of pregnancy, and within the first five minutes after completion of birth in the control group and immediately after the ringwomb diagnosis in the ringwomb group. Serum PAG, progesterone (P4), and estradiol-17β (E2) levels of the sheep in both groups were determined using a commercial kit. PAG concentration was higher in the ringwomb group compared to the control group on day 145 of pregnancy and at the time of delivery (P < .001). Progesterone levels at the time of delivery were higher in the ringwomb group compared to the control group (P < .001). Estradiol-17β levels at the time of delivery were lower in the ringwomb group compared to the control group (P < .001). In conclusion, it is thought that PAG concentration measurements taken before the onset of the birthing process could be used as a potential biomarker for the early diagnosis of uterine ring formation in pregnant ewes.