ORIGINAL_ARTICLE Pregnancy-specific protein B in Yankasa ewes during pregnancy and postpartum periods Pregnancy-specific protein B (PSPB) is produced by mono and binucleate trophoblast cells in the placenta of ruminants during pregnancy. This study was designed to determine the pattern of serum PSPB in Yankasa ewes during pregnancy and postpartum periods. Mature cycling Yankasa ewes were synchronized and divided into two groups A (n=11) and B (n=13). Group A was bred, while group B was unbred. Blood samples for PSPB assessment were collected from the ewes starting from the day of breeding until 4 weeks post-lambing. All pregnant Yankasa ewes lambed with singleton lambs after an average of 151.18 days. There was a significant (p<0.05) increase in PSPB in pregnant compared with the non-pregnant ewes in the period between 3 weeks post-breeding and 3 weeks post-lambing. Peaks were detected in the first (100.60 ng/ml), second (133.90 ng/ml), and third (114.82 ng/ml) trimesters at 5, 10 and 21 weeks of gestation, respectively, but steadily decreased within 4 weeks (2.38 ng/ml) postpartum. In conclusion, PSPB detected pregnancy in Yankasa ewes from 3 weeks post-breeding with peak levels at 5, 10 and 21 weeks post-breeding in the first, second, and third trimesters, respectively. PSPB decreased gradually after lambing until 4 weeks postpartum. https://macvetrev.mk/Files/Article/2021/10.2478/macvetrev-2021-0010/macvetrev-2021-0010.pdf 2021-03-15T09:00:00 55 62 10.2478/macvetrev-2021-0010 pregnancy specific protein-B pregnancy postpartum Yankasa ewes Adewale Ayodeji Adeyeye adewale.adeyeye@udusok.edu.ng false 1 Department of Theriogenology and Animal Production, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria LEAD_AUTHOR Yusha`u Usman Abubakar false 2 National Animal Production Research Institute, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria AUTHOR Olufisayo Oluwadamilare Leigh false 3 Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria AUTHOR Iyorhembe Utim Ate false 4 Department of Theriogenology and Production, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria AUTHOR Jashilagari Stephen false 5 Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria AUTHOR Kabir Ayo Regeem false 6 Department of Theriogenology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria AUTHOR Simon Azubuike Ubah false 7 Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Abuja, Nigeria AUTHOR NASS (2011). 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