Abstract:
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) and
international (IETS) 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%.
