Subjective Scoring Method for Evaluation of Uterine Echotexture to Detect Early Pregnancy in Holstein Cows and Heifers

Year 2023, Volume: 16 Issue: 3, 326 - 333, 30.09.2023

Kemal Tuna Olğaç

https://doi.org/10.30607/kvj.1319566

Abstract

In the study, it was aimed to develop a scoring scale, graded from 1 to 5, to identify different gray tones of the ultrasonographic images of uterus, and the pregnancy determination in cows was tried to make by the scoring technique, in the first 20 days after artificial insemination. Sixty Holstein cows (n:30) and heifers (n:30) were enrolled in the study. For each animal, two ultrasonographic images were taken (totally 1320 images) starting from the day of the artificial insemination (D0) until the 20th day (D20) on every other day. At the same time that images were taken, subjective scoring were made. Then, the images were evaluated to determine mean gray value (MGV) by ImageJ (ImageJ 1.53k; NIH, ABD) software. The obtained data at the end of the evaluations were analyzed in terms of age of animals (cow or heifer), the days of examinations (alternate days between D0 and D20) and the 28th day pregnancy status (pregnant or non-pregnant). Also score rates were given by one experienced and one inexperienced independent operators to determine scoring agreement level in terms of experience on the ultrasonographic examinations. The mean MGV values indicated statistically significant differences only between days of sampling (p<0.05). On the other hand, according to other main effects and interactions were not concluded with statistically significant differences (p>0.05). It has been determined that experienced (Rater 1) and inexperienced (Rater 2) raters have agreement (p<0.001) in poor level (κ=0.15). Moreover, scores of the Rater 1 (0.720) were observed that had higher level correlations than Rater 2 (0,541). The gray tone scoring analysis were concluded that the mean of gray tone scoring were not differed significantly in terms of means and two-way interactions between sampling time and pregnancy status (p>0.05). In conclusion, it has been observed that the 256 different shades of gray which is analyzed by computer assisted image analysis could be identified by human eye in a 5 graded scale. However, the endometrium of the ovulation side uterine horn reflects the same differentiation in the presence or absence of pregnancy, in the first 20 days.

Keywords

Cow, echotexture, heifer, pregnancy, ultrasound image, scoring

Supporting Institution

TÜBİTAK

Project Number

221O318

Thanks

I would like to thank Associate Professor Dr. Murat Onur Yazlık and Assistant Professor Dr. Ufuk Kaya for their valuable contributions to the manuscript.

Holstein Irkı İnek ve Düvelerde Uterus Ekotekstürünün Değerlendirilmesi için Yeni Bir Subjektif Skorlama Yöntemi

Abstract

Çalışmada uterusun ultrasonografik görüntülerinin farklı gri tonlarını belirlemek için 1 ile 5 arasında derecelendirilen bir skorlama skalası geliştirilmesi amaçlanmış ve çalışmada ineklerde tohumlama sonrası ilk 20 gün içinde bu skorlama yöntemi ile gebelik tespitinin gerçekleştirilmesi araştırılmıştır. Çalışmada 60 adet Holstein inek (n:30) ve düve (n:30) kullanıldı. Her bir hayvandan suni tohumlamanın yapıldığı günden başlayarak 20. güne kadar gün aşırı olmak üzere en az iki adet (toplam 1320 adet) ultrasonografik uterus görüntüsü alındı. Subjektif skorlamalar bir deneyimli ve bir deneyimsiz olmak üzere iki bağımsız uygulayıcı tarafından gerçekleştirildi. Aynı görüntüler, ImageJ (ImageJ 1.53k; NIH, ABD) yazılımı ile Ortalama Grilik Değeri (MGV) değerlerinin belirlenmesi açısından analiz edildi. Veriler, hayvanların yaşı (inek veya düve), muayene günleri (D0 - D20) ve 28. gün gebelik durumu (gebe veya gebe değil) açısından değerlendirildi. Ortalama MGV değerleri sadece örnekleme günleri arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı farklılıklar gösterdi (p<0,05). Diğer ana etkilere ve etkileşimlere göre elde edilen farklılıklar istatistiksel olarak anlamsız bulundu (p>0,05). Deneyimli (1. skorlayıcı) ve deneyimsiz (2. skorlayıcı) skorlayıcıların uyumlarının zayıf düzeyde (κ=0,15) olduğu belirlendi (p<0,001). Ayrıca, 1. skorlayıcının (0,720) 2. skorlayıcıya göre (0,541) MGV değerleri ile daha yüksek korelasyona sahip olduğu belirlendi. Gri tonu skorlama ile gebelik belirlenmesi analizinde anlamlı bir farklılık bulunmadı (p>0,05). Sonuç olarak, bilgisayar destekli görüntü analizi ile değerlendirilen grinin 256 farklı tonunun (MGV) insan gözü tarafından 5 dereceli bir ölçekte tanımlanabildiği sonucu elde edilmiştir. Ancak gebe olan ve olmayan inek ve düvelerde uterus endometriyumunun ekotekstür yapısının suni tohumlama sonrası ilk 20 gün içinde benzer olduğu gözlemlenmiştir

Keywords

düve, ekotekstür, inek, skorlama, ultrason görüntüsü

Project Number

221O318

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