IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON EMBRYO TRANSFER ACTIVITIES IN EUROPE

This review highlights to what extent the embryo transfer (ET) activity in Europe was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The ET represents a procedure of modern reproductive biotechnologies that is increasingly applied in farms animals. Commercial ET is applied to cattle and, albeit to a lesser exte...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ștefan Gregore CIORNEI, Dan DRUGOCIU, Florin NECHIFOR, Petru ROȘCA
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Iasi University of Life Sciences 2023-09-01
Series:Journal of Applied Life Sciences and Environment
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Online Access:https://jurnalalse.com/wp-content/uploads/ALSE3-2023-02.pdf
Description
Summary:This review highlights to what extent the embryo transfer (ET) activity in Europe was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The ET represents a procedure of modern reproductive biotechnologies that is increasingly applied in farms animals. Commercial ET is applied to cattle and, albeit to a lesser extent, to other species. For this study, official data reported by each country to the European (AETE, 2023) and international (IETS, 2023) forums, regarding ET activities, were accessed. Each country has an official rapporteur, but the procedures are not mandatory. The reported data included the total number of ET sessions, the type of embryos obtained in vivo derived (IVD) or in vitro produced (IVP), the collection rate of oocytes and embryos and transferable embryos produced both in cattle and other species. For comparison, the data of two similar pre-pandemic (2017 and 2018) and pandemic (2019 and 2020) periods were analysed. The pandemic period (2019) started with a record decrease in all categories of ET, most likely because of less reports by veterinaries since reporting took place in May 2020, already pandemic time Europe, indicating a false negative decrease in Europe, the total ET activities reported decreased by 31.59%. In 2019, the in vivo ET procedures in cattle decreased by 26,421 sessions compared to 2018 (approximately 20%). Surprisingly, during the pandemic, in vivo ET in equines increased by almost 40%.
ISSN:2784-0379
2784-0360