Relationship between Fetal Losses and Intrinsic Coagulation Disorder in Japanese Black cattle

• Published in: Journal of the Japan Veterinary Medical Association Vol. 67; no. 1; pp. 54 - 58
• Main Authors: OGATA, Yoshihiko, SIQINTUYA, MORITOMO, Yasuo, OHBA, Yasunori, KUNIEDA, Tetsuo, KITAGAWA, Hitoshi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese; English
• Published: Japan Veterinary Medical Association 20.01.2014
• Subjects: Activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT); factor XI deficiency; fetal loss
• ISSN: 0446-6454; 2186-0211
• DOI: 10.12935/jvma.67.54

The relationship between intrinsic coagulation disorders, including factor XI deficiency, and stillbirths of unknown cause (aka fetal losses) was studied in breeding Japanese Black cattle. Among the 129 breeding cattle investigated, the frequency of the factor XI deficiency mutant gene was 26.4%. There were no significant differences in prothrombin time (PT) among the mutant allele homozygous (mutant homologous) group, the mutant allele heterozygous (heterologous) group and the normal homozygous (normal homologous) group; however, there were significant differences in activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) among these groups. The frequency of fetal losses was significantly higher in the mutant homologous group than the mutant heterologous group and the normal homologous group, and the odds ratio of fetal loss frequency between the normal homologous group and the mutant homologous group was 2.72 (95% confidence interval: 1.08-6.84). To investigate the relationship between intrinsic coagulation factors other than factor XI and fetal losses, 71 cattle in the normal homologous group were divided into two groups — one in which APTT was extended for 20 seconds or longer than the median value (the extension group) and a non-extension group — and PT and fetal loss frequency were compared between the two groups. A significant difference was not found in PT, but was found in APTT and fetal-loss frequency between the groups. The odds ratio of fetal-loss frequency between the extension group and the non-extension group was 3.49 (95% confidence interval: 1.29-9.40). Also, the odds ratio of fetal-loss frequency between the non-extension group and the mutant homologous group was 3.77 (95% confidence interval: 1.39-10.18). These results indicate that intrinsic coagulation factor disorders including XI factor deficiency may be involved in fetal losses in Japanese Black cattle.