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Foal born from vitrified immature oocyte in Belgium
Ghent scientists say the cryopreservation of oocytes offers several possibilities in veterinary medicine. (stock photo)
VICSI’s birth ‘an important breakthrough’, say scientists
 
A ‘test tube’ foal has been born in Belgium using two techniques - vitrification and ICSI. Scientists say the birth is a major breakthrough in the field of assisted reproduction in horses.

The stallion, which has been named VICSI after the two techniques used to secure his birth, was born at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Ghent University.

Vitrification is a cryopreservation method that involves cooling the oocytes very rapidly, resulting in the formation of a glass-like structure. For ICSI, or intracytoplasmic sperm injection, micro-manipulation is used to inject a sperm cell into an oocyte.

For this research, oocytes were aspirated from equine ovaries collected at the slaughterhouse. These immature oocytes were vitrified and stored in liquid nitrogen for a week, then maturation of the oocytes was carried out in an incubator following rapid warming. The mature oocytes were fertilised through ICSI and cultured in the incubator for nine days, after which the resulting embryo was transferred to the uterus of a recipient mare.

Ghent scientists say the cryopreservation of oocytes offers several possibilities in veterinary medicine. Freezing immature oocytes offers lots of opportunities for conserving the genetics of rare or endangered equids. Cryopreservation also allows oocytes to be stored and transported for research or clinical purposes.

However, it takes time to optimise a technique to the point that it has practical applications. In this study, only 34 per cent of the vitrified oocytes matures and only 5 per cent of the injected oocytes developed into a good embryo. When fresh oocytes are used, on the other hand, the maturation rate is 60 per cent, and 20 per cent of the fertilised oocytes develops into an embryo that can be transferred to a mare.

Researchers say VICSI’s birth is an important first step towards these practical applications.

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Cold-water dip to raise funds for Vetlife

News Story 1
 The veterinary mental health charity Vetlife is inviting the veterinary community to join it for a sponsored cold-water dip.

The event will take place at Walpole Bay, Margate, on 17 May during Mental Health Awareness Week. Participants of all abilities can join in the challenge and are advised to bring a towel, a hot drink, a snack, and warm clothes to get changed into afterwards.

Those taking part are being asked to try to raise £100 each to support the work of the charity.

Details about how to take part can be found here. 

Click here for more...
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Bluetongue low vector period ends

In an update to its bluetongue guidance, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced that the seasonal low vector period for the disease has ended.

With winter over, Defra is planning for a possible increase in cases as midges become more active. It has warned that farms along the east coast of England from Norfolk to Kent, and along the south coast from Kent to Devon, are at highest risk from infected midges blown over from northern Europe.

Since the virus was detected in England in November 2023, there have been 126 confirmed cases. The most recent case to be confirmed was on 1 March 2024.

Farmers are asked to continue to frequently monitor their livestock and ensure their animals and land are registered with the Animal and Plant Health Agency.