Twin Pregnancy in the Martina Franca Donkey Breed Managed by Natural Reduction and Post-Fixation Manual Crushing.
Authors: Veronesi Maria Cristina, De Amicis Ippolito, Giangaspero Brunella Anna, Fusi Jasmine, Robbe Domenico, Castelli Francesco, Carluccio Augusto
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Twin Pregnancy Management in Donkeys Natural reduction of twin pregnancies—where one embryo spontaneously dies in utero—occurs more frequently in donkeys than previously documented, yet many cases still progress to term as pathological twins requiring intervention. Researchers tracked 47 twin pregnancies in Martina Franca donkeys using ultrasound monitoring and recorded outcomes for pregnancies managed through natural reduction alone or combined with manual embryo crushing (post-fixation manual crushing of one embryo following natural death or resorption). The study found that whilst natural reduction occurred in a substantial proportion of cases, pregnancies that failed to reduce naturally were successfully managed by manual crushing, with outcomes favouring single-foetus continuation and reducing the risk of abortion and neonatal loss associated with unmanaged twin pregnancies. For practitioners, these findings underscore the critical importance of early ultrasound screening (particularly between days 12–20 of pregnancy) to identify twins, as detection combined with appropriate management—whether by waiting for natural reduction or intervening manually—significantly improves survival rates compared to leaving twins undetected. Given that undetected twins represent the leading cause of abortion in equids with high neonatal mortality, donkey breeders and veterinarians should consider implementing routine pregnancy monitoring protocols, especially in breeds where twin pregnancies may be more common than appreciated.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Donkey breeders should implement routine twin pregnancy screening via ultrasound early in gestation to enable timely management decisions
- •Manual embryo crushing after fixation is a viable alternative to pre-fixation crushing, with natural reduction occurring spontaneously in some cases
- •Unmanaged twin pregnancies in donkeys carry high risk of loss; proactive detection and management significantly improve breeding success rates
Key Findings
- •Natural reduction of twin pregnancies occurs in donkeys and can be successfully managed without intervention
- •Post-fixation manual crushing of one embryo is an effective management strategy for twin pregnancies in Martina Franca donkeys
- •Twin pregnancy detection and appropriate management are critical to prevent abortion and improve neonatal survival outcomes in donkeys