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Rusenova N, Rusenov A, Monaco F. A Retrospective Study on the Seroprevalence of West Nile Virus Among Donkeys and Mules in Bulgaria. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2024. [PMID: 38294797 DOI: 10.1089/vbz.2023.0095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: West Nile virus (WNV) infection, caused by a flavivirus, emerged in Europe and America in the past two decades. The etiological agent causes asymptomatic to life-threatening infection in humans and in some animal species. The objective of this study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of WNV among donkeys and mules in Bulgaria. Methods: A total of 200 archived serum samples were tested by competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Positive samples were additionally analyzed by virus neutralization assay. Results: Seroprevalence of 7% (14/200) was established among tested animals by ELISA. Two samples were subsequently verified for the presence of virus neutralizing antibodies; thus, the seroprevalence against WNV was determined to be 1% (2/200 [confidence interval = 0.12-3.61]). Positive results among mules included in the study were not found. Conclusion: The findings in the present research demonstrate that donkeys are exposed to WNV infection and seroconvert, which adds to the understanding of virus circulation among donkeys in settlements in north and south Bulgaria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolina Rusenova
- Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia University, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
| | - Anton Rusenov
- Department of Internal Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Trakia University, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria
| | - Federica Monaco
- Department of Diagnostics and Surveillance of Exotic Diseases, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G. Caporale," Teramo, Italy
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2
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Nenadović K, Mikuš T. Editorial: The welfare of working animals. Front Vet Sci 2024; 10:1339792. [PMID: 38260188 PMCID: PMC10800696 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1339792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Katarina Nenadović
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Tomislav Mikuš
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
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Marzok M, Kandeel M, Alkhodair K, Abdel-Raheem S, Ismail H, Farag A, Ibrahim H, El-Ashkar M, Shousha S, El-Khodery S. Evaluation of cardiac indices using M-mode echocardiography after administration of metoclopramide and ondansetron in donkeys ( Equus asinus): an experimental study. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1189710. [PMID: 37680391 PMCID: PMC10480612 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1189710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to evaluate cardiac indices using M-mode echocardiography after the administration of metoclopramide and ondansetron in donkeys. For this purpose, 10 apparently healthy Egyptian Baladi donkeys (Equus asinus) were used in a crossover prospective study. Two trials were conducted with the administration of metoclopramide hydrochloride anhydrous at a dose of 0.25 mg Kg-1 and ondansetron hydrochloride sodium at a dose of 0.15 mg Kg-1. The control group (placebo) received a total volume of 50 mL of isotonic saline at 0.9%. An echocardiographic examination was performed using a Digital Color Doppler Ultrasound System equipped with a 2-3.9 MHz phased array sector scanner transducer. In general, the fractional shortening (FS%) was significantly affected by the time for metoclopramide (p = 0.031) and ondansetron (p = 0.047) compared with those of placebo, with treatment with metoclopramide provoking significantly higher percentages of FS% at T60 (p = 0.009) and T90 (p = 0.028) compared with those for ondansetron and placebo. The interaction of time x treatment also showed a statistically significant alteration of FS% (p < 0.05), while the values returned to the basal line at T240. Metoclopramide induced a significant decrease in E-point to septal separation (EPSS) at T90 (p = 0.005), and T240 (p = 0.007) compared with ondansetron and placebo. The time x treatment interaction also showed a significant (p < 0.05) variation in EPSS, with values returning to the basal line at T300. Mitral valve opening velocity (DE SLP) values were significantly affected by time (p = 0.004) in the metoclopramide group compared with those of ondansetron and placebo. Administration of metoclopramide and ondansetron provoked significant alterations of DE SLP at T60 (p = 0.039), T120 (p = 0.036), and T300 (p = 0.005) compared with placebo. In conclusion, caution should be exercised when administering both treatments, especially to animals with suspected cardiac problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Marzok
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Surgery, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafrelsheikh, Egypt
| | - Mahmoud Kandeel
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafrelsheikh, Egypt
| | - Khaled Alkhodair
- Department of Anatomy, College of Veterinary Medicine, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sherief Abdel-Raheem
- Department of Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Animal Nutrition and Clinical Nutrition, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Hisham Ismail
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Animal Nutrition and Clinical Nutrition, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Food Hygiene "Meat Hygiene", Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt
| | - Alshimaa Farag
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases and Fish Diseases, Mansoura University, Manosura, Egypt
| | - Hossam Ibrahim
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases and Fish Diseases, Mansoura University, Manosura, Egypt
| | - Maged El-Ashkar
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases and Fish Diseases, Mansoura University, Manosura, Egypt
| | - Saad Shousha
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Physiology, Benha University, Benha, Egypt
| | - Sabry El-Khodery
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases and Fish Diseases, Mansoura University, Manosura, Egypt
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4
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McLean AK, Falt T, Abdelfattah EM, Middlebrooks B, Gretler S, Spier S, Turoff D, Navas Gonzalez FJ, Knych HK. Transdermal Flunixin Meglumine as a Pain Relief in Donkeys: A Pharmacokinetics Pilot Study. Metabolites 2023; 13:776. [PMID: 37512483 PMCID: PMC10383245 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13070776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent approval of transdermal flunixin meglumine (FM) (Banamine®) in cattle has opened the door for the drug's potential application in other species. Transdermal FM could provide a safe and effective form of pain relief in donkeys. In order to evaluate the pharmacokinetics and effects of FM on anti-inflammatory biomarkers in donkeys, a three-way crossover study design was employed. In total, 6 healthy donkeys were administered transdermal (TD) FM at a dosage of 3.3 mg/kg, and oral (PO) and intravenous (IV) doses of 1.1 mg/kg body weight. Blood samples were collected over 96 h to determine the concentration of flunixin, 5OH flunixin, and eicosanoids (TXB2 and PGF2 alpha) using LC-MS/MS. The results indicated that both flunixin and 5OH flunixin were detectable in blood samples collected during TD. The elimination of the drug was slower following the TD route compared to PO and IV. TD administration significantly decreased TXB2 levels in non-stimulated serum from 1 to 96 h post-administration, while IV and PO resulted in TXB2 reduction for 1 to 8 h. A significant reduction in PGF2 alpha was observed in PO and IV 1 h after administration, while TD resulted in a gradual decline from 4 to 72 h. The study concluded that the off-label use of transdermal FM at 3.3 mg/kg could be effective in controlling inflammation in donkeys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy K McLean
- Department of Animal Science, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
- World Donkey Breeds Project, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain
- Equitarian Initiative, Stillwater, MN 55028, USA
| | - Tara Falt
- Department of Animal Science, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Essam M Abdelfattah
- Department of Animal Hygiene, and Veterinary Management, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, Moshtohor 13736, Egypt
- Department of Population Health & Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, UC Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Brittany Middlebrooks
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Sophie Gretler
- K.L. Maddy Equine Analytical Pharmacology Lab, School of Veterinary Medicine, UC Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Sharon Spier
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, UC Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - David Turoff
- Equitarian Initiative, Stillwater, MN 55028, USA
| | - Francisco Javier Navas Gonzalez
- World Donkey Breeds Project, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain
- Department of Genetics, Veterinary Sciences, University of Cordoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain
| | - Heather K Knych
- K.L. Maddy Equine Analytical Pharmacology Lab, School of Veterinary Medicine, UC Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
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Rankins EM, McKeever KH, Malinowski K. Equids in Equine Assisted Services: A Scoping Review. J Equine Vet Sci 2023:104825. [PMID: 37244632 DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2023.104825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Equid welfare in equine assisted services (EAS) is an area that has received attention, but less attention than the documentation of human outcomes in response to EAS. To safeguard the well-being of equids and minimize human risk of injury, continued research on the effects of EAS programming and participants on equids needs to occur. The aims of this systematic scoping review were to identify the approaches taken for describing and understanding equids in EAS and the methods employed in evaluating equids' responses to EAS programming, participants, or both. Literature searches were performed in relevant databases to identify titles and abstracts for screening. Fifty-three articles were identified for full-text review. Fifty-one articles met the inclusion criteria and were retained for information and data extraction. The qualitative grouping of articles by study aim resulted in four categories: 1) characterization and description of equids in EAS; 2) the acute responses of equids to EAS programming, participants, or both; 3) the effects of management practices; and 4) the chronic responses of equids to EAS programming and participants. The latter three areas are in need of more research, especially as it relates to differentiating acute and chronic effects of EAS on the equids involved. Detailed reporting of information on study design, programming and participant characteristics, equid demographics, and workload are needed to facilitate comparison among studies and permit eventual meta-analysis of studies. Multi-faceted approaches including an array of measurements as well as relevant and informative control groups or conditions are required to identify the complex effects of EAS work on equids, their welfare, well-being, and affective states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen M Rankins
- Rutgers Equine Science Center, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.
| | - Kenneth H McKeever
- Rutgers Equine Science Center, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - Karyn Malinowski
- Rutgers Equine Science Center, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
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6
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Ma Q, Yue Y, Kou X, Hou W, Wang M, Yang X, Liu G, Li Y, Wang C. Dynamic Distribution of Skin Microorganisms in Donkeys at Different Ages and Various Sites of the Body. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13091566. [PMID: 37174603 PMCID: PMC10177048 DOI: 10.3390/ani13091566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Considerable evidence suggests that the skin microbiota is not only important and complex in humans and other mammals but also critical for maintaining health and skin homeostasis. To date, studies on the skin microorganisms of donkeys are surprisingly rare. To investigate the dynamic changes in commensal microbial communities on the skins of healthy donkeys throughout the growing period, skin and soil samples were collected from 30 healthy Dezhou donkeys (ranging from 1, 6, 12, 24 to 48 months of age) and their corresponding breeding sheds on the farm. All samples were analysed for high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA and ITS to characterize the skin microbiota of healthy donkeys and compare the differences in skin microbiota among donkeys of different ages. There were notable differences in the proportions of various genera (including bacteria and fungi) between dorsal and abdominal skin with increasing age. The comparison of the skin microbial communities among these groups revealed that Staphylococcus was mainly enriched in the early growing stage (1 and 6 months), while the relative abundance of Streptococcus was higher in both the 1- and 48-month-old age groups. Moreover, some bacteria and commensal fungi, such as Staphylococcus and Trichosporon, were found to be positively correlated between the skin and the environment. This is the first study to investigate the dynamic changes in skin microbiota diversity and composition in donkeys of different ages and at different sites of the body. Furthermore, this study provides insights into the dynamic alterations in skin microbes during a donkey's growth and characterizes the profiles of bacterial and fungal communities across a donkey's body regions (dorsal and abdomen).
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingshan Ma
- Research Institute of Donkey High-Efficiency Breeding and Ecological Feeding, College of Agronomy, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252000, China
| | - Yunshuang Yue
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, National Engineering Research Center for Fruit and Vegetable Processing, Key Laboratory of Fruit and Vegetable Processing Ministry of Agriculture, Engineering Research Centre for Fruit and Vegetable Processing, Ministry of Education, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Xiyan Kou
- Research Institute of Donkey High-Efficiency Breeding and Ecological Feeding, College of Agronomy, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252000, China
| | - Wanting Hou
- Research Institute of Donkey High-Efficiency Breeding and Ecological Feeding, College of Agronomy, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252000, China
| | - Mingyu Wang
- Research Institute of Donkey High-Efficiency Breeding and Ecological Feeding, College of Agronomy, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252000, China
| | - Xihao Yang
- Research Institute of Donkey High-Efficiency Breeding and Ecological Feeding, College of Agronomy, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252000, China
| | - Guiqin Liu
- Research Institute of Donkey High-Efficiency Breeding and Ecological Feeding, College of Agronomy, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252000, China
| | - Yan Li
- Research Institute of Donkey High-Efficiency Breeding and Ecological Feeding, College of Agronomy, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252000, China
| | - Changfa Wang
- Research Institute of Donkey High-Efficiency Breeding and Ecological Feeding, College of Agronomy, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252000, China
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Costa PWL, Oliveira CSM, Bezerra RA, Alvares FBV, Formiga VHAS, Martins MRDD, Feitosa TF, Vilela VLR. Anti- Toxoplasma gondii and Anti- Neospora caninum Antibodies in Urban Traction Equids in Northeast Brazil: Seroprevalence and Risk Factors. Trop Med Infect Dis 2023; 8:tropicalmed8040234. [PMID: 37104359 PMCID: PMC10146200 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed8040234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of anti-T. gondii and anti-N. caninum antibodies in equids that carry out traction work in Northeastern Brazil, and to establish the potential risk factors associated with seropositivity for these agents. Blood samples were collected from 322 traction equids (horses, donkeys and mules) in urban areas of 16 municipalities in the State of Paraíba, Brazil. The samples were sent for serological diagnosis using the Immunofluorescence Antibody Test (IFAT). Epidemiological questionnaires were given to the owners to assess the possible risk factors associated with infections. It was observed that 13.7% (44/322, CI: 10.9-16.5) of the equids tested positive for anti-T. gondii antibodies and 5% (16/322, CI: 2.6-7.4) tested positive for anti-N. caninum antibodies. Conducting traction work for over four years was considered a risk factor associated with T. gondii infection (odds ratio: 6.050; CI: 4.38-8.54, p = 0.025). There were no risk factors associated with N. caninum infection. It was concluded that traction equids have a significant prevalence of anti-T. gondii and anti-N. caninum antibodies in urban areas in the State of Paraíba, with an identified risk factor for seropositivity for anti-T. gondii as conducting traction work for more than four years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulo Wbiratan Lopes Costa
- Pos-Graduating Program in Science and Animal Health, Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Patos 58708-110, Paraíba, Brazil
| | - Clarisse Silva Menezes Oliveira
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia da Paraíba, Sousa 58814-000, Paraíba, Brazil
| | - Roberto Alves Bezerra
- Pos-Graduating Program in Science and Animal Health, Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Patos 58708-110, Paraíba, Brazil
| | - Felipe Boniedj Ventura Alvares
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia da Paraíba, Sousa 58814-000, Paraíba, Brazil
| | - Victor Hugo Alves Sousa Formiga
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia da Paraíba, Sousa 58814-000, Paraíba, Brazil
| | | | - Thais Ferreira Feitosa
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia da Paraíba, Sousa 58814-000, Paraíba, Brazil
| | - Vinícius Longo Ribeiro Vilela
- Pos-Graduating Program in Science and Animal Health, Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Patos 58708-110, Paraíba, Brazil
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia da Paraíba, Sousa 58814-000, Paraíba, Brazil
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Dorneles EMS, Santana JA, Costa ACTRB, Júnior DGJ, Heinemann MB, Lage AP. Equine brucellosis: current understanding and challenges. J Equine Vet Sci 2023:104298. [PMID: 37072072 DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2023.104298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/20/2023]
Abstract
Brucellosis in equines, including horses, donkeys, and mules, is characterized by abscesses in tendons, bursae, and joints. Reproductive disorders, which are common in other animals, are rare in both males and females. Joint breeding of horses, cattle, and pigs was found as the main risk factor for equine brucellosis, with the transmission from equines to cattle or among equines possible, although unlikely. Hence, evaluation of the disease in equines can be considered an indirect indicator of the effectiveness of brucellosis control measures employed for other domestic species. Generally, the disease in equines reflects disease status in the sympatric domestic species, mainly cattle. It is important to note that in equines, the disease has no validated diagnostic test, which limits the interpretation of available data. Finally, it is important to mention that equines also represent significant Brucella spp. infection sources for humans. Considering the zoonotic aspect of brucellosis, the significant losses due to infection, and the representativeness of horses, mules, and donkeys in the society, as well as the continuous efforts to control and eradicate the disease in livestock, in this review, we covered the various aspects of brucellosis in equines and compile the sparse and diffuse information on the subject.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elaine Maria Seles Dorneles
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Faculdade de Zootecnia e Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Lavras, Minas Gerais. Caixa Postal 3037, Campus Universitário, 37200-900, Brazil.
| | - Jordana Almeida Santana
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Campus Pampulha da, Av. Pres. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Anna Cecília Trolesi Reis Borges Costa
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Faculdade de Zootecnia e Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Lavras, Minas Gerais. Caixa Postal 3037, Campus Universitário, 37200-900, Brazil
| | - Danilo Guedes Junqueira Júnior
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Campus Pampulha da, Av. Pres. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Marcos Bryan Heinemann
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Pública, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Professor Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87. Butantã. São Paulo, São Paulo, 05508-270, Brazil
| | - Andrey Pereira Lage
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Campus Pampulha da, Av. Pres. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Brazil..
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Cruz-Aleixo AS, de Oliveira KC, de Oliveira Ferreira LV, Cedeo Quevedo DA, Cruz RKS, Tsunemi MH, Chiacchio SB, Lourenço MLG. Electrocardiographic and Echocardiographic Parameters in Pega Breed Donkeys: A Descriptive Study. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13. [PMID: 36899718 DOI: 10.3390/ani13050861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Clinical, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic parameters in Pega donkeys are scarce in the literature; hence, this study was performed to describe the echocardiographic and electrocardiographic measurements in Pega breed donkeys. The objectives of this study were to describe and illustrate the clinical, electrocardiographic, and echocardiographic parameters in Pega donkeys used for reproduction. Fifty Pega breed donkeys were evaluated, with an average age of 3.4 years and with 20 males and 30 females. In each animal, the electrocardiographic examination at rest was performed using the TEB® computerized system, and the echocardiographic examination was performed using an ultrasound device with a Doppler function multifrequency sectorial transducer in 2D mode (Sonosite® M turbo). Standardizing the electrocardiographic and echocardiographic parameters for the Pega breed donkey can contribute to future assessments regarding possible changes that excessive effort can promote in these parameters to a management engrossed on animal welfare.
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Mulinge E, Zeyhle E, Mbae C, Gitau L, Kaburu T, Magambo J, Mackenstedt U, Romig T, Kern P, Wassermann M. Cystic echinococcosis in donkeys in eastern Africa. Parasitology 2023;:1-8. [PMID: 36843475 DOI: 10.1017/S0031182023000173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/28/2023]
Abstract
Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is endemic in humans and domestic animals in eastern Africa. All the species of the Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato complex have been reported in this region except for E. equinus, possibly due to the small number of studies involving equids. This study reports the frequency of different Echinococcus species in donkeys from eastern Africa. A total of 5961 donkeys were examined during meat inspection in 3 slaughterhouses in Kenya. Identification of Echinococcus spp. was achieved through polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment-length polymorphism and sequencing of the mitochondrial nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) dehydrogenase subunit 1 gene. The prevalence of CE was 5.7% (337/5961). The 263 genotyped cysts belonged to E. equinus (n = 163), E. granulosus sensu stricto (n = 70), E. canadensis (G6/7) (n = 26) and E. ortleppi (n = 4). One donkey harboured a metacestode of Spirometra theileri. All E. equinus cases, except 2, originated from southern Ethiopia, whereas the other species were more evenly distributed across the study area. Most of the cysts belonging to E. equinus were fertile (111/163), while those of the other species were non-fertile. This is the first report of Echinococcus spp. in donkeys from sub-Saharan Africa and the first confirmation of E. equinus in East Africa. The frequent fertility of E. equinus cysts in donkeys affirms their suitability as intermediate hosts of this species, while low frequency and cyst fertility suggest a marginal role of donkeys in the transmission of E. granulosus s. s., E. canadensis (G6/7) and E. ortleppi.
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11
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Li Y, Ma Q, Shi X, Liu G, Wang C. Integrated multi-omics reveals novel microbe-host lipid metabolism and immune interactions in the donkey hindgut. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1003247. [PMID: 36466834 PMCID: PMC9716284 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1003247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 09/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Evidence has shown that gut microbiota play a key role in host metabolism and health; however, little is known about the microbial community in the donkey hindgut as well as the interactions that occur between gut microbes and the host. This study aimed to explore the gut microbiome differences by analyzing the microbial community and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to lipid metabolism and the immune system along the donkey hindgut. The hindgut tissues (cecum, ventral colon, and dorsal colon) were separated, and the contents of each section were collected from six male donkeys for multi-omics analysis. There were significant differences in terms of dominant bacteria among the three sections, especially between the cecum and dorsal colon sites. For instance, species belonging to Prevotella and Treponema were most abundant in the cecum, while the Clostridiales_bacterium, Streptococcus_equinus, Ruminococcaceae_bacterium, etc., were more abundant in the dorsal colon. Apart from propionate, the concentrations of acetate, isobutyrate, valerate and isovalerate were all lower in the cecum than in the dorsal colon (p < 0.05). Furthermore, we identified some interesting DEGs related to lipid metabolism (e.g., ME1, MBOAT1, ACOX1, ACOX2 and LIPH) and the immune system (e.g., MUC3B, mucin-2-like, IL17RC, IL1R2, IL33, C1QA, and MMP9) between the cecum and dorsal colon and found that the PPAR pathway was mainly enriched in the cecum. Finally, we found a complex relationship between the gut microbiome and gene expression, especially with respect to the immune system, and combined with protein-protein interaction (PPI) data, suggesting that the PPAR pathway might be responsible, at least in part, for the role of the hindgut microbiota in the donkeys' gut homeostasis. Our data provide an in-depth understanding of the interaction between the microbiota and function in the healthy equine hindgut and may also provide guidance for improving animal performance metrics (such as product quality) and equine welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Changfa Wang
- Shandong Engineering Technology Research Center for Efficient Breeding and Ecological Feeding of Black Donkey, College of Agronomy, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, China
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Li Y, Ma Q, Shi X, Yuan W, Liu G, Wang C. Comparative Transcriptome Analysis of Slow-Twitch and Fast-Twitch Muscles in Dezhou Donkeys. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:1610. [PMID: 36140778 PMCID: PMC9498731 DOI: 10.3390/genes13091610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Revised: 09/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The skeletal muscle fiber profile is closely related to livestock meat quality. However, the molecular mechanisms determining muscle fiber types in donkeys are not completely understood. In this study, we selected the psoas major muscle (PM; mainly composed of oxidative-type muscle fibers) and biceps femoris muscle (BF; mainly composed of glycolytic-type muscle fibers) and systematically compared their mRNA and microRNA transcriptomes via RNA-seq. We identified a total of 2881 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 21 known differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRs). Furthermore, functional enrichment analysis showed that the DEGs were mainly involved in energy metabolism and actin cytoskeleton regulation. The glycolysis/gluconeogenesis pathway (including up-regulated genes such as PKM, LDHA, PGK1 and ALDOA) was more highly enriched in BF, whereas the oxidative phosphorylation pathway and cardiac muscle contraction (including down-regulated genes such as LDHB, ATP2A2, myosin-7 (MYH7), TNNC1, TPM3 and TNNI1) was more enriched in PM. Additionally, we identified several candidate miRNA-mRNA pairs that might regulate muscle fiber types using the integrated miRNA-mRNA analysis. Combined with the results of protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis, some interesting DEGs (including ACTN3, TNNT3, TPM2, TNNC2, PKM, TNNC1 and TNNI1) might be potential candidate target genes involved in the miRNA-mediated regulation of the myofibril composition. This study is the first to indicate that DEmiRs, especially eca-miR-193a-5p and eca-miR-370, and potential candidate target genes that are mainly involved in actin binding (e.g., ACTN3, TNNT3 and TNNC1) and the glycolysis/gluconeogenesis pathways (e.g., PKM) might coregulate the myofibril composition in donkeys. This study may provide useful information for improving meat quality traits in Dezhou donkeys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Li
- College of Agronomy, Shandong Engineering Technology Research Center for Efficient Breeding and Ecological Feeding of Black Donkey, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252000, China
| | - Qingshan Ma
- College of Agronomy, Shandong Engineering Technology Research Center for Efficient Breeding and Ecological Feeding of Black Donkey, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252000, China
| | - Xiaoyuan Shi
- College of Agronomy, Shandong Engineering Technology Research Center for Efficient Breeding and Ecological Feeding of Black Donkey, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252000, China
| | - Wenmin Yuan
- Marine Biomedical Research Institute of Qingdao, Qingdao 266000, China
| | - Guiqin Liu
- College of Agronomy, Shandong Engineering Technology Research Center for Efficient Breeding and Ecological Feeding of Black Donkey, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252000, China
| | - Changfa Wang
- College of Agronomy, Shandong Engineering Technology Research Center for Efficient Breeding and Ecological Feeding of Black Donkey, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252000, China
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Barrêto RA, Rodrigues LA, Albuquerque JP, de Sousa FJA, Firmino PR, Sousa RS, Pedrosa VJ, do Amaral TR, Minervino AHH. A novel orchiectomy surgical procedure in donkeys ( Equus asinus africanus) with parascrotal access. Pol J Vet Sci 2022; 25:295-302. [PMID: 35861971 DOI: 10.24425/pjvs.2022.141814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Donkeys are a public health concern in the Northeast region of Brazil, with thousands of stray animals. Orchiectomy is an important population control measure; however, the long postoperative period with daily treatment of open wounds in the scrotum makes it difficult to perform a large number of castrations in sheltering centers. We evaluate a novel surgical procedure for orchiectomy in donkeys using parascrotal access. Twelve donkeys were used, divided into two groups: I - submitted to orchiectomy through parascrotal surgical access (novel procedure), and II - submitted to orchiectomy through scrotal access (conventional). Postoperative evaluations consisted of a macroscopic evaluation of the surgical wound (bleeding and intensity of edema), hematological parameters, and peritoneal fluid, which occurred in both groups at the moments (M): M0 - before the surgical procedure. The others moments occurred after surgery: M12 (twelve hours); M24 (twenty-four hours); M48 (forty-eight hours); M72 (seventy-two hours); M8D (eight days); and M16D (sixteen days). The surgical techniques did not generate an important systemic inflammatory response to the point detected by the leukogram, fibrinogen dosage, and peritoneal fluid. The parascrotal technique required long surgery but promoted less bleeding, less edema, and faster healing. The techniques used did not promote sufficient systemic inflammation to alter the number of leukocytes and the fibrinogen concentration; however, evaluation of the peritoneal fluid proved to be important for evaluating inflammatory processes involving the scrotum and inguinal canal. We describe a novel surgical procedure for orchiectomy in Donkeys using a parascrotal access that promoted less risk of bleeding, shorter period of edema, and healing time, but required longer surgery time.
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Affiliation(s)
- R A Barrêto
- Department of Animal Science, Federal Rural University of the Semiarid Region, UFERSA. Av. Francisco Mota, s/nº - Bairro Pres. Costa e Silva, CEP 59625-900, Mossoró, RN, Brazil
| | - L A Rodrigues
- Adílio Santos de Azevedo Veterinary Hospital, Federal Institute of Paraíba, Sousa, PB, Brazil
| | - J P Albuquerque
- Department of Animal Science, Federal Rural University of the Semiarid Region, UFERSA. Av. Francisco Mota, s/nº - Bairro Pres. Costa e Silva, CEP 59625-900, Mossoró, RN, Brazil
| | - F J A de Sousa
- Department of Animal Science, Federal Rural University of the Semiarid Region, UFERSA. Av. Francisco Mota, s/nº - Bairro Pres. Costa e Silva, CEP 59625-900, Mossoró, RN, Brazil
| | - P R Firmino
- Department of Animal Science, Federal Rural University of the Semiarid Region, UFERSA. Av. Francisco Mota, s/nº - Bairro Pres. Costa e Silva, CEP 59625-900, Mossoró, RN, Brazil
| | - R S Sousa
- Institute of Humid Tropic Studies - Federal University of the South and Southeast of Pará, UNIFESSPA, Xinguara-PA, Brazil
| | - V J Pedrosa
- Department of Animal Science, Federal Rural University of the Semiarid Region, UFERSA. Av. Francisco Mota, s/nº - Bairro Pres. Costa e Silva, CEP 59625-900, Mossoró, RN, Brazil
| | - T R do Amaral
- Department of Animal Science, Federal Rural University of the Semiarid Region, UFERSA. Av. Francisco Mota, s/nº - Bairro Pres. Costa e Silva, CEP 59625-900, Mossoró, RN, Brazil
| | - A H H Minervino
- Laboratory of Animal Health, LARSANA, Federal University of Western Pará, UFOPA. Rua Vera Paz, s/n, Salé, CEP 68040-255, Santarém, PA, Brazil
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Alberghina D, Statelli A, Monteverde V, Vazzana I, Cascone G, Panzera M. Serum Cortisol and Its Correlation with Leucocyte Profile and Circulating Lipids in Donkeys (Equus asinus). Animals (Basel) 2022; 12. [PMID: 35405831 DOI: 10.3390/ani12070841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The values for basal serum cortisol concentrations of horses are available in many studies. However, there are limited data about serum cortisol in donkeys. The present study aimed to determine the baseline values for serum cortisol, to evaluate the influence of age and pregnancy on its levels, and to correlate its values with leucocyte profile, serum cholesterol, and triglycerides. Serum samples were collected from 97 healthy donkeys. Cortisol was analyzed by chemo-luminescent assay. The median and the 2.5th and 97.5th percentiles of serum cortisol measured and calculated in all donkeys were 5.64, 3.40, and 10.54 µg/dL, respectively. Females (n.91) were divided into three groups: Group A (young), Group B (adult), and Group C (pregnant at the 9th−11th months). The effect of age and physiological status was investigated by the Mann−Whitney test. Group C showed significantly higher levels than Group B (p < 0.05). Significant correlations were found in Group B with monocytes (r = 0.37, p < 0.01) and triglycerides (r = 0.30, p < 0.05), and in Group C with monocytes (r = 0.79, p < 0.01), basophils (r = 0.6, p < 0.05), and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (r = −0.63, p < 0.05). Higher cortisol values related to late pregnancy are also found in this species. These preliminary results provide evidence for a relationship between cortisol and the immune system as well as cortisol and lipid metabolism modulated by age and pregnancy when parameters are within normal values.
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Mendoza FJ, Buzon-Cuevas A, Toribio RE, Perez-Ecija A. Characterisation of the oral glucose and sugar tolerance tests and the enteroinsular axis response in healthy adult donkeys. Equine Vet J 2021; 54:1123-1132. [PMID: 34897779 DOI: 10.1111/evj.13544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Insulin dysregulation (ID) is diagnosed in horses and ponies using oral glucose (OGTT) and oral sugar (OSTT) tolerance tests. The enteroinsular axis plays a major role in postprandial glucose disposal and insulin response in horses, ponies and foals. The insulin and incretin response to oral carbohydrate challenges has not been characterised in donkeys. OBJECTIVES (a) To characterise OGTT and OSTT, and (b) to assess the plasma incretin response to OGTT and OSTT in healthy donkeys. STUDY DESIGN In vivo experiments. METHODS Six healthy adult female Andalusian donkeys were challenged with OGTT (1 g/kg glucose, 20% solution by nasogastric tube) and OSTT (0.45 mL/kg corn syrup orally by syringe) with a 1-week washout. Blood samples were collected for glucose (spectrophotometry), insulin (radioimmunoassay), glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP, ELISA) and active glucagon-like peptide-1 (aGLP-1, ELISA) determination over 6 hours. Curves were analysed and proxies calculated. RESULTS Glucose and insulin concentrations peaked at 180 minutes in OGTT, but at 300 and 150 minutes in OSTT, respectively. Plasma GIP concentrations increased in the OGTT and OSTT (peaked at 180 and 360 minutes, respectively), but aGLP-1 increased only in OGTT (240 minutes). MAIN LIMITATIONS Single breed, narrow age and sample, diet, season and not having donkeys with evidence of ID to provide clinical validation. CONCLUSIONS Donkeys have a functional enteroinsular axis that is activated by enteral carbohydrates. Donkeys have evident endocrine differences with horses, supporting the validation of the OSTT and OGTT to assess insulin sensitivity in this species to avoid extrapolation from horses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco J Mendoza
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain
| | - Antonio Buzon-Cuevas
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain
| | - Ramiro E Toribio
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
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Maboni G, Kelly EJ, Clancy CS, De Luca E, Baldwin TJ, Van Wettere AJ, Kane AJ, Peterson S, Warr VG, Bastian DA, Sanchez S. Detection of asinine gammaherpesviruses in association with pulmonary fibrosis in free-ranging donkeys. J Vet Diagn Invest 2021; 34:167-171. [PMID: 34689632 PMCID: PMC8688973 DOI: 10.1177/10406387211052998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
A mortality event among recently captured feral donkeys (Equus asinus) occurred in south-central Utah in 2016. The deaths were sporadic, and clinical signs were indicative of respiratory disease, likely associated with an infectious etiology. Ten of 13 donkeys autopsied had moderate-to-severe interstitial fibrosing pneumonia, and one had pyogranulomatous pneumonia. Consensus PCRs directed toward the DNA polymerase and DNA packaging terminase subunit 1 for herpesviruses were performed followed by sequencing of the PCR amplicons and phylogenetic analysis. Asinine herpesvirus 4 (AsHV4) and 5 (AsHV5) were consistently identified in lung tissues of affected donkeys. No other herpesviruses were identified, and herpesviral DNA was not detected in lung tissues of 2 donkeys without evidence of respiratory disease. The detection of asinine gammaherpesviruses may have been associated with the lesions described. AsHV4 and AsHV5 have been reported in previous studies as novel gammaherpesviruses based on sequences obtained from donkeys with interstitial pneumonia and marked syncytial cell formation. Our findings suggest that the association of asinine gammaherpesviruses with respiratory conditions in equids deserves further attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grazieli Maboni
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.,Athens Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - E Jane Kelly
- Utah Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Logan, UT, USA
| | - Chad S Clancy
- Utah Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Logan, UT, USA
| | - Eliana De Luca
- Athens Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | | | | | - Albert J Kane
- USDA-APHIS Veterinary Services, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | | | - V Gus Warr
- Utah Wild Horse and Burro Program, Bureau of Land Management, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Dona A Bastian
- Utah Wild Horse and Burro Program, Bureau of Land Management, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Susan Sanchez
- Athens Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
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Mota-Rojas D, Braghieri A, Álvarez-Macías A, Serrapica F, Ramírez-Bribiesca E, Cruz-Monterrosa R, Masucci F, Mora-Medina P, Napolitano F. The Use of Draught Animals in Rural Labour. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:2683. [PMID: 34573649 DOI: 10.3390/ani11092683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Although mechanisation has markedly reduced animal labour demand in agriculture, draught animals are still used in small production units located on terrains that do not favour agriculture mechanisation. Especially in Africa, Latin America, and Asia, they represent one of the main sources of sustenance for thousands of families who utilise animal labour in numerous agricultural tasks, such as ploughing and harvesting, as well as means of transport and hauling. Depending on the geographic area, the species involved are equids (horses, donkeys, and mules) and bovids (buffaloes and cattle). Draught animals proved to be sustainable in terms of global warming and the use of non-renewable energy as compared with agricultural machinery. However, critical points are the quality of human–animal interaction, due to the close contact between animals and humans while working, and the welfare of draught animals when transported and slaughtered, due to the high prevalence of injuries they suffer when subjected to these practices. Therefore, their use should be promoted in rural marginal areas where only low investments are usually feasible, and the energy of the animals can be obtained at a low cost by feeding them harvest residues and by-products. Abstract This study discusses scientific findings on the use of draught animals such as equids (i.e., horses, mules, and donkeys) and bovids (i.e., cattle and water buffaloes) in rural labours. Relevant peer-reviewed literature published between 1980 and 2021 was retrieved from CAB Abstracts, PubMed, ISI Web of Knowledge, and Scopus databases. Although animals were used to produce draught power since their domestication and are still being used for this purpose, mechanisation has markedly reduced animal labour demand in agriculture. However, the process was uneven across continents according to economic constraints, and draught animals are currently concentrated in small production units located on terrains that do not favour agriculture mechanisation in Africa, Latin America, and Asia. Generally, equids can work at rates similar to those of bovids or faster but can sustain the work for shorter periods of time. In addition, buffaloes possess tough hooves and resistance to disease that make them suitable for working in wetlands and clay soils. Draught animals allow a marked reduction of both GHG emissions and non-renewable energy consumption as compared with agricultural machinery. In addition, they may allow obtaining profits from otherwise non-usable lands. Therefore, their use should be promoted in rural areas where low investments are usually the only ones feasible, and the energy of the animals can be obtained at a low cost by feeding them harvest residues and by-products. However, more attention should be paid to the quality of human–animal interactions—due to the close contact between animals and humans while working—and to the welfare of draught animals when transported and slaughtered—due to the high prevalence of injuries they suffer when subjected to these practices.
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Abstract
An 8-y-old jenny was presented because of anorexia and mild depression. The jenny had weaned her colt 10 d before the admission. Upon arrival at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital, the heart rate was elevated, and the right udder was painful and swollen on palpation. Milk stripping of the affected side revealed purulent content; the contralateral udder had normal-appearing milk. Cytology of mammary gland secretions from the affected side revealed a large number of hypersegmented reactive neutrophils with phagocytized bacteria. Complete blood count, serum chemistry, and fibrinogen were within normal limits. A diagnosis of clinical mastitis was made, and the jenny was started on a 5-d course of broad-spectrum antibiotics, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory, hydrotherapy, and milk stripping. Clinical signs reduced over time, and the cure was attained by 96 h post-admission. Aerobic culture and subsequent MALDI-TOF MS analysis identified a bacterium of the Streptococcus genus but not the species. Whole-genome analysis was performed, and 16S rDNA sequencing and analysis determined that our isolate 20-37394 clustered with 2 other Streptococcus strains (27284-01 and 28462). Single-nucleotide variations and phylogenetic tree analysis revealed that Streptococcus 20-37394 had 96.8% and 94.9% identities to Streptococcus strains 27284-01 and 28462, respectively; therefore, the bacteria isolated in our case was deemed as a new Streptococcus species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Podico
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine (Podico, Gray, Canisso), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Sarah M. Gray
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine (Podico, Gray, Canisso), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Leyi Wang
- Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (Wang), College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Igor F. Canisso
- Igor F. Canisso, Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 1008 W. Hazelwood Dr, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
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Olufemi OT, Barba M, Daly JM. A Scoping Review of West Nile Virus Seroprevalence Studies among African Equids. Pathogens 2021; 10:899. [PMID: 34358049 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10070899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 07/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) is an emerging and re-emerging zoonotic flavivirus first identified in and endemic to Africa. The virus is transmitted between birds by biting mosquitoes, with equids and humans being incidental hosts. The majority of infected incidental hosts display no or only mild clinical signs, but a fraction develop encephalitis. The aim of this scoping review was to identify and evaluate primary research on the presence of antibodies to WNV among African equids. Three bibliographic databases and the grey literature were searched. Of 283 articles identified, only 16 satisfied all the inclusion criteria. Data were collated on study design and outcomes. The overall seroprevalence reported ranged from 17.4 to 90.3%, with 1998 (35%) of the 5746 horses, donkeys and mules having screened positive for WNV antibodies. Several articles determined that seroprevalence increased significantly with age. Due to co-circulation of other flaviviruses in Africa, in the majority of studies that screened samples by ELISA, positive results were confirmed using a more specific neutralization test. However, only eight studies tested against other flaviviruses, including Potiskum, Uganda S, Wesselsbron and yellow fever virus in one, Japanese encephalitis and Usutu virus (USUV) in one, tick-borne encephalitis and USUV in one and USUV only in three. Equids are regarded as useful sentinel animals for WNV, but variation in study design poses challenges when trying to determine risk factors for, and trends in, WNV seroprevalence.
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Molini U, Franzo G, Nel H, Khaiseb S, Ntahonshikira C, Chiwome B, Baines I, Madzingira O, Monaco F, Savini G, D'Alterio N. West Nile Virus Seroprevalence in a Selected Donkey Population of Namibia. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:681354. [PMID: 34222404 PMCID: PMC8249584 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.681354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
West Nile Virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne virus enzootically maintained in birds. However, it can incidentally infect other species, leading to sometimes severe clinical consequences like in horses and especially human beings. Despite the topic relevance, the presence and distribution of WNV are currently unknown in Namibia. Several countries implement surveillance systems based on virus detection in birds, mosquitoes, and vertebrate species including horses. The present study aimed to fill this knowledge gap by serologically evaluating WNV exposure in Namibian donkeys, whose population is remarkably bigger than the horse one. Forty-seven out of 260 sampled animals showed neutralizing antibodies against WNV (18.07% [95% CI = 13.59–23.30%]), demonstrating its circulation in all country territory, although, with apparent regional differences. On the contrary, no association with animal age or sex could be identified. The present study demonstrates the widespread presence of WNV in Namibia as well as the practical utility and effectiveness of donkeys as sentinels for infection surveillance. Due to clinical relevance, vaccination campaigns should be considered for horses of high economic or genetic value. Additionally, the burden of WNV infection on human health should be carefully evaluated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Umberto Molini
- Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Namibia, Neudamm Campus, Windhoek, Namibia.,Central Veterinary Laboratory (CVL), Windhoek, Namibia
| | - Giovanni Franzo
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production, and Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Hannah Nel
- Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Namibia, Neudamm Campus, Windhoek, Namibia
| | | | - Charles Ntahonshikira
- Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Namibia, Neudamm Campus, Windhoek, Namibia
| | - Bernard Chiwome
- Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Namibia, Neudamm Campus, Windhoek, Namibia
| | - Ian Baines
- Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Namibia, Neudamm Campus, Windhoek, Namibia
| | - Oscar Madzingira
- Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Namibia, Neudamm Campus, Windhoek, Namibia
| | - Federica Monaco
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G. Caporale", Teramo, Italy
| | - Giovanni Savini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G. Caporale", Teramo, Italy
| | - Nicola D'Alterio
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G. Caporale", Teramo, Italy
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Martella V, Lanave G, Camero M, Larocca V, Lorusso E, Catella C, Capozza P, Tempesta M, Buonavoglia C. Identification of a Novel α-herpesvirus Associated with Ulcerative Stomatitis in Donkeys. Emerg Infect Dis 2021; 26:3044-3047. [PMID: 33219790 PMCID: PMC7706971 DOI: 10.3201/eid2612.200201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
An outbreak of ulcerative stomatitis was observed in a donkey (Equus asinus) dairy herd. Similar lesions were also observed on the dams’ udders and, sporadically, in genital areas. The lesions typically resolved in 1–3 weeks. An α-herpesvirus, Varicellovirus, genetically related to equid herpesvirus type 3, was identified.
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Quaresma M, Marín C, Bacellar D, Nóvoa M, Navas FJ, McLean A. Selenium and Vitamin E Concentrations in Miranda Jennies and Foals ( Equus asinus) in Northeast Portugal. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:1772. [PMID: 34198534 PMCID: PMC8231900 DOI: 10.3390/ani11061772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The increase in donkeys treated by practitioners in recent years has led to an increased interest in finding more information on basic biochemical preliminary reference values. The aims of this study were to measure Se and Vit E levels in plasma from Miranda jennies peripartum and postpartum and in their foals to compare blood profiles of the jenny and foal related to the overall foal's health. Twenty-two healthy peripartum and postpartum Miranda donkeys were sampled (12 jennies and 10 foals) in the northeast of Portugal (Atenor and Paradela) from May to November, 2018. Amounts of selenium in soil were significantly correlated (0.97) to concentrations of selenium in jennies (42.412 μg/L in Atenor and 9.612 μg/L in Paradela) and foals (19.378 μg/L in Atenor and 6.430 μg/L in Paradela). Selenium levels were lower in foals than adults and in males than females. Vitamin E was associated with overall foal health. Foals with a mean vitamin E of 3.585-5.307 mg/L showed signs of weakness, but carpal flexural deformities were observed when the average vitamin E was 11.520 mg/L. Low vitamin E levels (5.307 mg/L) in jennies were related to foal mortality. Diets, location, parity, and age affect blood profiles of jennies and, ultimately, foal health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Quaresma
- Animal and Veterinary Research Center (CECAV), Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal;
- AEPGA-Association for the Study and Protection of Donkeys, Atenor, 5225-011 Miranda do Douro, Portugal; (D.B.); (M.N.)
| | - Carmen Marín
- Genetics Department, Veterinary Sciences, Rabanales University Campus, University of Córdoba, Madrid-Cádiz Km. 396, 14014 Cordoba, Spain;
- The Worldwide Donkey Breeds Project, Rabanales University Campus, University of Córdoba, Madrid-Cádiz Km. 396, 14014 Cordoba, Spain;
| | - Daniel Bacellar
- AEPGA-Association for the Study and Protection of Donkeys, Atenor, 5225-011 Miranda do Douro, Portugal; (D.B.); (M.N.)
| | - Miguel Nóvoa
- AEPGA-Association for the Study and Protection of Donkeys, Atenor, 5225-011 Miranda do Douro, Portugal; (D.B.); (M.N.)
| | - Francisco Javier Navas
- Genetics Department, Veterinary Sciences, Rabanales University Campus, University of Córdoba, Madrid-Cádiz Km. 396, 14014 Cordoba, Spain;
- The Worldwide Donkey Breeds Project, Rabanales University Campus, University of Córdoba, Madrid-Cádiz Km. 396, 14014 Cordoba, Spain;
- Instituto de Investigación y Formación Agraria y Pesquera (IFAPA), Alameda del Obispo, 14004 Cordoba, Spain
| | - Amy McLean
- The Worldwide Donkey Breeds Project, Rabanales University Campus, University of Córdoba, Madrid-Cádiz Km. 396, 14014 Cordoba, Spain;
- Department of Animal Science, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95617, USA
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23
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Mendoza FJ, Mejia-Moreira S, Buchanan BR, Toribio RE, Perez-Ecija A. Evaluation of the combined glucose-insulin and intravenous glucose tolerance tests for insulin dysregulation diagnosis in donkeys. Equine Vet J 2021; 54:531-540. [PMID: 34109681 DOI: 10.1111/evj.13482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Insulin dysregulation (ID) and donkey metabolic syndrome (DMS) are common in this species. Contrary to horses, diagnostic guidelines compiling insulin cut-offs values and dynamic testing interpretations have not been reported for this species. OBJECTIVES To evaluate resting serum insulin concentrations, the combined glucose-insulin test (CGIT) and the glucose intravenous tolerance test (IVGTT) for the diagnosis of DMS with ID suspicion. STUDY DESIGN Diagnostic test comparison. METHODS Six of 80 mix-breed adult donkeys fulfilled the inclusion criteria for DMS based on history or clinical evidence of recurrent laminitis, body condition >6 and neck score >2 or baseline insulin and leptin concentrations >20 µIU/mL and >12 ng/mL respectively. CGIT and IVGTT were performed in all donkeys within a week and interpreted following guidelines reported for equine metabolic syndrome (EMS). Insulin and glucose curves were analysed, proxies calculated and correlations and multivariate analysis assessed. RESULTS Following EMS guidelines, CGIT classified 2 (using glucose-positive phase duration) or 3 (using insulin concentration) and IVGTT classified 5 donkeys as ID. ID donkeys showed a lower glucose/insulin ratio, QUICKI and RISQI, and a higher insulin/glucose ratio, MIRG and HOMA-B%. MAIN LIMITATIONS Comparison of these tests with additional dynamic testing including a larger number of ID donkeys is necessary. CONCLUSIONS This is the first study evaluating dynamic tests to assess ID/DMS in DMS-suspected donkeys. IVGTT detected more ID donkeys than CGIT. EMS recommendations could also be used for DMS diagnosis, although a baseline insulin cut-off value is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Ramiro E Toribio
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
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24
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Onyiche TE, Sivakumar T, Tuvshintulga B, Nugraha AB, Ahedor B, Mofokeng L, Luka J, Mohammed A, Mbaya AW, Biu AA, Yokoyama N, Thekisoe O. Serosurvey for equine piroplasms in horses and donkeys from North-Western Nigeria using IFAT and ELISA. J Immunoassay Immunochem 2021; 42:648-661. [PMID: 34097577 DOI: 10.1080/15321819.2021.1935274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Equine piroplasmosis is caused by apicomplexan parasites, namely, Babesia caballi and Theileria equi, which are transmitted to equids principally through ticks. To ascertain the exposure of equines to agents of equine piroplasms, we tested serum samples collected from horses (n = 272) and donkeys (n = 170) in North-Western Nigeria for the presence of antibodies against B. caballi and T. equi using IFAT and ELISA. The seroprevalence of T. equi in the horses determined using IFAT and ELISA was 48.89% and 45.96%, respectively, while for B. caballi, it was 6.3% and 0.4%, respectively. For T. equi, the seroprevalence based on IFAT and ELISA results in donkeys was 14.1% and 2.9%, respectively, while for B. caballi, the seroprevalence was 2.4% and 0.6%, respectively, for ELISA and IFAT. Mixed infection detected in the horses using IFAT and ELISA was 5.5% and 0.4%, respectively, while no mixed infection was observed in the donkeys. The seroprevalence of T. equi was significantly (P < .0001) higher than that of B. caballi in both horses and donkeys. Comparatively, the IFAT detected a greater number of piroplasm seropositive animals than ELISA, indicating a difference in their diagnostic accuracy. Findings from this study confirm the existence of equine piroplasms in both horses and donkeys in North-Western Nigeria and highlights the need for robust and effective control measures against the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- ThankGod E Onyiche
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan.,Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, Potchefstroom, South Africa.,Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria
| | - Thillaiampalam Sivakumar
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Bumduuren Tuvshintulga
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Arifin Budiman Nugraha
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan.,Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, IPB University, Indonesia
| | - Believe Ahedor
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan.,Department of Animal Experimentation, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
| | - Lehlohonolo Mofokeng
- Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| | - Joshua Luka
- Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria
| | - Ali Mohammed
- Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria
| | - Albert W Mbaya
- Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria
| | - Abdullahi A Biu
- Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria
| | - Naoaki Yokoyama
- National Research Center for Protozoan Diseases, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Oriel Thekisoe
- Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, Potchefstroom, South Africa
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25
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Nye C, Watson T, Kubasiewicz LM, Raw Z, Burden F. 'Don't Put the Cart before the Mule!' Challenging Assumptions Regarding Health-Related Treatment Practices of Working Equid Owners in Northern India. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:1307. [PMID: 34062777 DOI: 10.3390/ani11051307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Donkeys and mules are still commonly worked across the world in place of mechanical vehicles. They are prone to various diseases and welfare issues, often as a result of poor working conditions. A proportion of the associated literature and a number of interventions are still driven by the assumption that the owners of working equids base their decisions on how to treat their animal upon economic factors or access to veterinary services. This paper uses a mixture of qualitative and quantitative methods to understand the reasons behind why equid owners choose to treat their animals in the way that they do. It explores the various means by which they choose to do this and the avenues available to them. It identifies four factors which influence how and why owners of working equids choose to treat their animals in a particular way and highlights in particular the frequency with which traditional methods or ‘home remedies’ play a significant role in attempts to remedy the poor health of an animal. The findings demonstrate a greater need to validate traditional methods used, in order to promote better health and to reduce risk, as well as the requirement to tailor animal welfare interventions according to these influencing factors to encourage more sustainable outcomes for both animals and owners. Abstract This paper challenges assumptions that the health management of working equids among some of India’s poorest communities is mainly dependent upon income, economic influence, or access to veterinary services. Using a mixed-methods approach, hierarchies of treatment practices are revealed through an examination of the ‘lived experience’ of equid owners in brick kilns and construction sites in northern India. Semi-structured interviews with 37 equid owners and corresponding livelihood surveys, combined with data from two focus groups with professional animal health practitioners and the welfare data of 63 working equids collected using the Equid Assessment, Research, and Scoping (EARS) tool, contributed to the findings of the study. Four principal influencing factors were found to affect the decision-making practices of equid owners. Infrastructural factors, community characteristics and experience, owners’ characteristics and experience, and economic factors all impact the belief structures of equid owners. However, without verifying the validity of the treatment measures being employed, some animals are at risk from hazardous treatment behaviours. By understanding decision-making using the theory of planned behaviour, the findings of this study can provide a crucial contribution to informing future interventions involved in the health management and welfare of working equids.
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26
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Zhu Y, Chen S, Yi Z, Holyoak R, Wang T, Ding Z, Li J. Nasopharyngeal Microbiomes in Donkeys Shedding Streptococcus equi Subspecies equi in Comparison to Healthy Donkeys. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:645627. [PMID: 33969039 PMCID: PMC8100518 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.645627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Streptococcus equi subsp. equi (S. equi) is the pathogen causing strangles, a highly infectious disease that can affect equids including donkeys of all ages. It can persistently colonize the upper respiratory tract of animals asymptomatically for years, which serves as a source of infection. Several strangles outbreaks have been reported in the donkey industry in China in the last few years and pose a great threat to health, production, and the welfare of donkeys. Nasopharyngeal swab samples for culture and PCR are used widely in strangles diagnosis. Additionally, microbiomes within and on the body are essential to host homoeostasis and health. Therefore, the microbiome of the equid nasopharynx may provide insights into the health of the upper respiratory tract in animals. There has been no study investigating the nasopharyngeal microbiome in healthy donkeys, nor in donkeys shedding S. equi. This study aimed to compare nasopharyngeal microbiomes in healthy and carrier donkeys using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Nasopharyngeal samples were obtained from 16 donkeys recovered from strangles (group S) and 14 healthy donkeys with no history of strangles exposure (group H). Of those sampled, 7 donkeys were determined to be carriers with positive PCR and culture results in group S. In group H, all 14 donkeys were considered free of strangles based on the history of negative exposure, negative results of PCR and culture. Samples from these 21 donkeys were used for microbial analysis. The nasopharyngeal microbiome composition was compared between the two groups. At the phylum level, relative abundance of Proteobacteria was predominantly higher in the S. equi carrier donkeys than in healthy donkeys (P < 0.01), while Firmicutes and Actinobacteria were significantly less abundant in the S. equi carrier donkeys than in healthy donkeys (P < 0.05). At the genus level, Nicoletella was detected in the upper respiratory tract of donkeys for the first time and dominated in carrier donkeys. It is suspected to suppress other normal flora of URT microbiota including Streptococcus spp., Staphylococcus spp., and Corynebacterium spp. We concluded that the nasopharyngeal microbiome in S. equi carrier donkeys still exhibited microbial dysbiosis, which might predispose them to other airway diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiping Zhu
- Equine Clinical Diagnostic Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Shulei Chen
- Equine Clinical Diagnostic Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Ziwen Yi
- Equine Clinical Diagnostic Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Reed Holyoak
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, United States
| | - Tao Wang
- Dong-E-E-Jiao Co., Ltd., Dong-E County, China
| | | | - Jing Li
- Equine Clinical Diagnostic Center, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
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27
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Zakari FO, Ayo JO, Rekwot PI, Samuel FU. Daytime Evaluation of Oxidative Stress and Behavioural Parameters of Donkeys (Equus asinus) During The Hot-Dry and Cold-Dry (Harmattan) Season in a Tropical Savannah. J APPL ANIM WELF SCI 2021; 25:256-274. [PMID: 33856940 DOI: 10.1080/10888705.2021.1894146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The aim of the study was to evaluate oxidative stress and behavioural responses of donkeys during the cold-dry and hot-dry seasons. Thirty donkeys divided into three groups of ten donkeys each according to their age served as experimental subjects. During each season, behavioural and blood parameters of the donkeys were evaluated three times with an interval of one week at 06:00 h, 12:00 h and 18:00 h (GMT+1). During the hot-dry season, the peak dry-bulb temperature (DBT) value of 36.00 ± 1.00°C was recorded at 12:00 h, indicating that the season induced heat stress. The time spent feeding demonstrated diurnal fluctuations in adult, yearling and foal donkeys, with the highest time occurring at 12:00 h in both seasons. The malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations in adults (2.34 ± 0.14 nMol/L), yearlings (2.28 ± 0.19 nMol/L) and foals (3.48 ± 0.17 nMol/L) during the hot-dry season were significantly (P < 0.05) higher, when compared to the corresponding values (0.96 ± 0.09, 1.18 ± 0.10 and 1.82 ± 0.10 nMol/L, respectively) recorded during the cold-dry season. At 0.3% NaCl-concentration, the percentage haemolysis obtained during the hot-dry season in adult (90.33 ± 0.49%), yearling (91.24 ± 0.88%) and foal (97.44 ± 0.24%) donkeys were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than the corresponding values (78.53 ± 0.98, 78.67 ± 0.58 and 88.23 ± 0.47%, respectively), recorded during the cold-dry season. In conclusion, the hot-dry season induced heat stress in the donkeys, resulting in a decrease in time spent on feeding and oxidative stress, as evidenced by high erythrocyte MDA concentration and percentage haemolysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Friday Ocheja Zakari
- Department of Veterinary Physiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria
| | - Joseph Olusegun Ayo
- Department of Veterinary Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria
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28
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Perrucci S, Guardone L, Altomonte I, Salari F, Nardoni S, Martini M, Mancianti F. Apicomplexan Protozoa Responsible for Reproductive Disorders: Occurrence of DNA in Blood and Milk of Donkeys ( Equus asinus) and Minireview of the Related Literature. Pathogens 2021; 10:111. [PMID: 33499205 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10020111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Donkeys may be susceptible to many pathological agents and may act as carriers of pathogens for other animal species and humans. This study evaluated the occurrence of potentially abortifacient apicomplexan protozoa DNA in blood and milk samples collected at different time periods during lactation (1, 6, and 10 months) from 33 healthy dairy jennies. A total of 73 blood and 73 milk samples were used for DNA extraction and analysis. Blood specimens from 11/33 (33%) jennies scored positive for Theileria equi, while milk samples scored negative. Blood and milk of 3/33 jennies yielded DNA of Toxoplasma gondii at 6 months (n. 1) and 10 months (n. 2) after parturition. Neospora caninum DNA was found in four milk and in five blood samples only at one month after parturition. This study is the first report about the presence of N. caninum DNA in milk of naturally infected jennies. Moreover, the excretion of N. caninum DNA in some of these jennies at 30 days from the parturition may suggest a possible occurrence of an endogenous cycle, while the presence of T. gondii DNA in the milk collected at 6 and 10 months after parturition may be suggestive of a discontinuous excretion.
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29
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Li N, Yang F, Yu J, Yang W, Wu S, Ma J, Liu B, Zhang R, Zhou X, Losinno L, Miragaya MH, Zeng S. Characteristics of follicular dynamics and reproductive hormone profiles during oestrous cycles of jennies over an entire year. Reprod Domest Anim 2021; 56:448-458. [PMID: 33368622 DOI: 10.1111/rda.13883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Although donkeys have been domesticated for over 6,000 years, limited information is available concerning their reproductive physiology, especially under intensive rearing conditions. The aims of this experiment were to study follicular dynamics and reproductive hormone variation in jennies during the inter-ovulatory interval in different seasons. A total of 12 continuous cycles of six Dezhou Black (DB) donkey jennies were examined in four different seasons. The diameters of the six largest follicles of each jenny were measured daily by ultrasonography, and blood samples were collected at fixed times for reproductive hormone assays. The results demonstrated that most jennies displayed regular oestrous cycles in all seasons. The follicular dynamics were similar in Spring, Summer and Winter, while the jennies had longer oestrous cycles with delayed follicular deviation and dominant selection in Autumn. At least two follicular waves were observed in each oestrous cycle, throughout the study, but two jennies presented oestrous cycles with three follicular waves in the Autumn. The numbers of follicular waves were consistent with the numbers of FSH surges. Oestrous characteristics of the jennies in a large herd were also analysed. The results showed that the rates of regular oestrous cycles were 83.1% (265/319), 89.6% (215/240), 80.2% (235/293) and 77.1% (178/231), with 26.4% (70/265), 19.5% (42/215), 22.1% (52/235) and 23.0% (41/178) double ovulation rates in Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, respectively. The results presented may be useful for donkey farms in the design of breeding strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Li
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Feng Yang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Yu
- National Engineering Research Center for Gelatin-based Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dong-E-E-Jiao Co. Ltd., Done-E Country, China
| | - Weigang Yang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Shuaishuai Wu
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.,National Engineering Research Center for Gelatin-based Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dong-E-E-Jiao Co. Ltd., Done-E Country, China
| | - Jinliang Ma
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yang Zhou University, Jiangsu, China
| | - Bing Liu
- National Engineering Research Center for Gelatin-based Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dong-E-E-Jiao Co. Ltd., Done-E Country, China
| | - Ruitao Zhang
- National Engineering Research Center for Gelatin-based Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dong-E-E-Jiao Co. Ltd., Done-E Country, China
| | - Xiangshan Zhou
- National Engineering Research Center for Gelatin-based Traditional Chinese Medicine, Dong-E-E-Jiao Co. Ltd., Done-E Country, China
| | - Luis Losinno
- Laboratory of equine Production, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, National University of Rio Cuarto, Rio Cuarto, Argentina
| | - Marcelo H Miragaya
- Institute of Research and Technology in animal reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Shenming Zeng
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
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Mouta AN, de Oliveira Lima I, de Oliveira MGC, Alves LP, de Macêdo LB, Araujo-Silva G, Pérez-Urizar J, de Paula VV. Pharmacokinetic properties of tramadol and M1 metabolite in Northeast Brazilian donkeys (Equus asinus). J Vet Pharmacol Ther 2020; 44:318-325. [PMID: 33280136 DOI: 10.1111/jvp.12935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Revised: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
There is currently little information available on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the analgesic opioid tramadol when used in the veterinary medicine of domestic species. In this study, we aimed to determine the pharmacokinetics of tramadol and its active metabolite M1 following intravenous administration of 2 (T2) and 4 (T4) mg/kg to Northeast Brazilian donkeys. Tramadol and M1 plasma levels were quantified using a validated liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method. We found that plasma levels of tramadol and M1 were higher than those reported as clinically meaningful in humans for at least 3 hr. However, the pharmacokinetic parameter calculation corrected by dose analysis identified no proportional increase with dose for the AUC of tramadol (T2: 2,663 ± 1,827 vs. T4: 2,964 ± 1,038 ng*h/ml) and M1 (T2: 378 ± 237 vs. T4: 345 ± 142 ng*h/ml). This finding appears to be attributable to a significant increase in clearance and a reduction in the terminal half-life of tramadol. The frequency of adverse effects observed at the higher dose indicates that 2 mg/kg administered intravenously would be suitable for donkeys. Clinical studies are required to determine the implications of these observations regarding the pharmacodynamic response to tramadol in Northeast Brazilian donkeys.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - José Pérez-Urizar
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí, México
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31
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Zhu Y, Jiang W, Holyoak R, Liu B, Li J. Investigation of Oral Microbiome in Donkeys and the Effect of Dental Care on Oral Microbial Composition. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:E2245. [PMID: 33266023 DOI: 10.3390/ani10122245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The objective of this study was to investigate the oral microbial composition of the donkey and whether basic dental treatment, such as dental floating, would make a difference to the oral microbial environment in donkeys with dental diseases using high-throughput bacterial 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Oral swab samples were collected from 14 donkeys with various dental abnormalities on day 0 (before treatment) and day 20 (twenty days after treatment). It is the first report focusing on the oral microbiome in donkeys with dental diseases and the impact of common dental procedures thereon. Identified in group Day 0 and group Day 20, respectively, were 60,439.6 and 58,579.1 operational taxonomic units (OTUs). Several taxa in Day 0 differed significantly from Day 20 at the phylum and genus levels, but no statistically significant difference was observed in richness and diversity of Day 0 and Day 20. The results also indicated that a larger-scale study focusing on healthy donkey oral microbiome, as well as the correlation of dental diseases and oral microbiomes at different time frames following more specific and consistent dental treatment, are warranted.
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Câmara RJF, Bueno BL, Resende CF, Balasuriya UBR, Sakamoto SM, dos Reis JKP. Viral Diseases that Affect Donkeys and Mules. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10122203. [PMID: 33255568 PMCID: PMC7760297 DOI: 10.3390/ani10122203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Revised: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Donkeys have been neglected and threatened by abandonment, indiscriminate slaughter, and a lack of proper sanitary management. They are often treated as “small horses.” However, donkeys and horses have significant genetic, physiological, and behavioral differences. Specific knowledge about viral infectious diseases that affect donkeys and mules is important to mitigate disease outbreaks. Thus, the purpose of this review is to provide a brief update on viral diseases of donkeys and mules and ways to prevent their spread. Abstract Donkeys (Equus asinus) and mules represent approximately 50% of the entire domestic equine herd in the world and play an essential role in the lives of thousands of people, primarily in developing countries. Despite their importance, donkeys are currently a neglected and threatened species due to abandonment, indiscriminate slaughter, and a lack of proper sanitary management. Specific knowledge about infectious viral diseases that affect this group of Equidae is still limited. In many cases, donkeys and mules are treated like horses, with the physiological differences between these species usually not taken into account. Most infectious diseases that affect the Equidae family are exclusive to the family, and they have a tremendous economic impact on the equine industry. However, some viruses may cross the species barrier and affect humans, representing an imminent risk to public health. Nevertheless, even with such importance, most studies are conducted on horses (Equus caballus), and there is little comparative information on infection in donkeys and mules. Therefore, the objective of this article is to provide a brief update on viruses that affect donkeys and mules, thereby compromising their performance and well-being. These diseases may put them at risk of extinction in some parts of the world due to neglect and the precarious conditions they live in and may ultimately endanger other species’ health and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebeca Jéssica Falcão Câmara
- Laboratório de Retroviroses, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil; (R.J.F.C.); (B.L.B.); (C.F.R.)
| | - Bruna Lopes Bueno
- Laboratório de Retroviroses, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil; (R.J.F.C.); (B.L.B.); (C.F.R.)
| | - Cláudia Fideles Resende
- Laboratório de Retroviroses, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil; (R.J.F.C.); (B.L.B.); (C.F.R.)
| | - Udeni B. R. Balasuriya
- Louisiana Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory and Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, River Rd, Room 1043, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA;
| | - Sidnei Miyoshi Sakamoto
- Laboratório Multidisciplinar do Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Departamento de Ciências da Saúde (DCS), Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, Rio Grande do Norte 59625-900, Brazil;
| | - Jenner Karlisson Pimenta dos Reis
- Laboratório de Retroviroses, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil; (R.J.F.C.); (B.L.B.); (C.F.R.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +55-31-3409-2100
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Daddy KK, Mwanza M, Oguttu JW, Ngoma L. The prevalence and risk factors associated with Leptospira in donkeys in Ngaka Modiri Molema District, North West Province, South Africa. Vet World 2020; 13:2020-2027. [PMID: 33132620 PMCID: PMC7566248 DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2020.2020-2027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Aim: Leptospirosis is one of the major emerging global economic and health problems affecting donkeys, thereby reducing their work output. Furthermore, the disease has public health importance because of its zoonotic nature. Despite the significant contribution donkeys make to the national economy, less attention is given to diseases that afflict donkeys and reduce their productivity and performance. A cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the seroprevalence of Leptospira and identify risk factors associated with the occurrence of the disease among donkeys in the study area. Materials and Methods: A questionnaire survey was used to collect the following data: Demographic, environmental, management, and health-related factors. Blood samples were aseptically collected from 365 randomly selected donkeys from 19 villages. The sera were tested using the microscopic agglutination test. Categorical variables were summarized and presented as proportions and their 95% confidence interval (CI). A binary logistic regression model was fitted to the data to identify risk factors associated with Leptospira seroprevalence in donkeys within the study areas. Results: The majority of the donkeys (29.6%; n=108/365) were from Mafikeng local municipality, and the rest (19.7%; n=72/365) were from Ratlou. Just over half (58.1%; n=212/365) of the donkeys tested were female, and the remaining (41.9%; n=153/365) were males. In addition, most donkeys (42.7%; n=156/365) were between 6 and 12 years old, followed by those between 0 and 5 years (37%; n=135/365), and only 20.3% (n=74/365) were above 12 years. Out of the donkeys tested, 11.5% (95% CI: 4.86-18.14) donkeys tested positive for Leptospira antibodies. The most common serovar was Bratislava (81%; n=34/42), followed by Tarassovi (19.04%; n=8/42). While gender was positively associated with seroprevalence of the disease (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR]=4.88; p=0.0001), the presence of horses (AOR=0.226; p=0.002) and agricultural activities (AOR=0.093; p=0.0001) in the vicinity of the dwellings of the donkeys were negatively associated with Leptospira seropositivity in the study area. Conclusion: Findings reported here show that donkeys in the study area are reservoirs for the predominant serovar Bratislava and the less dominant serovar Tarassovi. The gender of the donkey was a risk factor for Leptospira seroprevalence. Further studies are needed to investigate the role of agricultural activities in the vicinity of the dwellings of donkeys on the occurrence of Leptospira in the study area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kibambe Kiayima Daddy
- Department of Animal Health, School of Agriculture, Faculty of Natural and Agriculture Sciences, North West University, Private Bag X2046, Mmabatho 2735, South Africa
| | - Mulunda Mwanza
- Department of Animal Health, School of Agriculture, Faculty of Natural and Agriculture Sciences, North West University, Private Bag X2046, Mmabatho 2735, South Africa
| | - James Wabwire Oguttu
- Department of Agriculture and Animal Health, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa, Florida Science Campus, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Lubanza Ngoma
- Department of Animal Health, School of Agriculture, Faculty of Natural and Agriculture Sciences, North West University, Private Bag X2046, Mmabatho 2735, South Africa
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Panzera M, Alberghina D, Statelli A. Ethological and Physiological Parameters Assessment in Donkeys Used in Animal Assisted Interventions. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:E1867. [PMID: 33066258 PMCID: PMC7602119 DOI: 10.3390/ani10101867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Revised: 09/26/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Few studies have been performed to identify objective indicators for the selection of therapeutic donkeys or to assess their welfare during animal-assisted interventions (AAIs) Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the response to the ethological test and the modifications of physiological parameters in donkeys subjected to AAI sessions. METHODS Thirteen donkeys were subjected to a behavioral evaluation during an AAI session. Heart rate, heart rate variability, and root mean square of successive difference values were detected. RESULTS Statistically significant changes in the tested parameters were observed during AAI sessions. CONCLUSIONS In donkeys, there was a neurovegetative involvement during AAI sessions. Our data give a contribution to the evaluation of donkey welfare during AAIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Panzera
- Centro Universitario Specializzato per gli Interventi Assistiti con gli Animali, Università degli Studi di Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy;
- Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università degli Studi di Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy;
| | - Daniela Alberghina
- Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università degli Studi di Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy;
| | - Alessandra Statelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università degli Studi di Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy;
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Diallo AA, Souley MM, Issa Ibrahim A, Alassane A, Issa R, Gagara H, Yaou B, Issiakou A, Diop M, Ba Diouf RO, Lo FT, Lo MM, Bakhoum T, Sylla M, Seck MT, Meseko C, Shittu I, Cullinane A, Settypalli TBK, Lamien CE, Dundon WG, Cattoli G. Transboundary spread of equine influenza viruses (H3N8) in West and Central Africa: Molecular characterization of identified viruses during outbreaks in Niger and Senegal, in 2019. Transbound Emerg Dis 2020; 68:1253-1262. [PMID: 32770642 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.13779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Revised: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Since November 2018, several countries in West and Central Africa have reported mortalities in donkeys and horses. Specifically, more than 66,000 horses and donkeys have succumbed to disease in Burkina Faso, Chad, Cameroon, The Gambia, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, and Senegal. Strangles caused by Streptococcus equi subsp equi, African Horse Sickness (AHS) virus, and Equine influenza virus (EIV) were all suspected as potential causative agents. This study reports the identification of EIV in field samples collected in Niger and Senegal. Phylogenetic analysis of the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase genes revealed that the identified viruses belonged to clade 1 of the Florida sublineage and were very similar to viruses identified in Nigeria in 2019. Interestingly, they were also more similar to EIVs from recent outbreaks in South America than to those in Europe and the USA. This is one of the first reports providing detailed description and characterization of EIVs in West and Central Africa region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alpha Amadou Diallo
- Laboratoire National de l'Elevage et de Recherches Vétérinaires ISRA/LNERV(LNERV), Dakar, Sénégal
| | | | | | - Abdou Alassane
- Laboratoire Central de l'Elevage (LABOCEL), Niamey, Niger
| | - Rahila Issa
- Laboratoire Central de l'Elevage (LABOCEL), Niamey, Niger
| | - Haladou Gagara
- Laboratoire Central de l'Elevage (LABOCEL), Niamey, Niger
| | - Bachir Yaou
- Laboratoire Central de l'Elevage (LABOCEL), Niamey, Niger
| | - Abdou Issiakou
- Direction Générale des Services Vétérinaires du Niger, Niamey, Niger
| | - Mariame Diop
- Laboratoire National de l'Elevage et de Recherches Vétérinaires ISRA/LNERV(LNERV), Dakar, Sénégal
| | - Racky Oumar Ba Diouf
- Laboratoire National de l'Elevage et de Recherches Vétérinaires ISRA/LNERV(LNERV), Dakar, Sénégal
| | - Fatou Tall Lo
- Laboratoire National de l'Elevage et de Recherches Vétérinaires ISRA/LNERV(LNERV), Dakar, Sénégal
| | - Modou Moustapha Lo
- Laboratoire National de l'Elevage et de Recherches Vétérinaires ISRA/LNERV(LNERV), Dakar, Sénégal
| | - Thierno Bakhoum
- Laboratoire National de l'Elevage et de Recherches Vétérinaires ISRA/LNERV(LNERV), Dakar, Sénégal
| | - Mamadou Sylla
- Laboratoire National de l'Elevage et de Recherches Vétérinaires ISRA/LNERV(LNERV), Dakar, Sénégal.,Direction du Développement des Equidés, MEPA, Dakar, Sénégal
| | - Momar Talla Seck
- Laboratoire National de l'Elevage et de Recherches Vétérinaires ISRA/LNERV(LNERV), Dakar, Sénégal
| | - Clement Meseko
- National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria
| | - Ismaila Shittu
- National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria
| | - Ann Cullinane
- OIE Reference Laboratory for Equine influenza, Irish Equine Centre, Kildare, Ireland
| | - Tirumala B K Settypalli
- Animal Production and Health Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria
| | - Charles E Lamien
- Animal Production and Health Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria
| | - William G Dundon
- Animal Production and Health Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria
| | - Giovanni Cattoli
- Animal Production and Health Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria
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Onyiche TE, Taioe MO, Molefe NI, Biu AA, Luka J, Omeh IJ, Yokoyama N, Thekisoe O. Equine piroplasmosis: an insight into global exposure of equids from 1990 to 2019 by systematic review and meta-analysis. Parasitology 2020; 147:1411-24. [PMID: 32741382 DOI: 10.1017/S0031182020001407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Equine piroplasmosis (EP) is a tick-borne disease of economic importance, relevant in the international movement of equids. The causative agents are at least two apicomplexan protozoan parasites Babesia caballi and Theileria equi. To date, there is no study that estimates global and regional exposure of equids to EP. We therefore conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the pooled prevalence and heterogeneity of EP using random-effects model. Six electronic databases were searched for publications on EP and assessed according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. A total of 66 eligible studies published between 1990 and 2019 and representing 24 041 equids were included. The overall pooled prevalence estimates (PPEs) of B. caballi was 22.3% (95% CI 21.7-22.8), while the overall PPE for T. equi was 29.4% (95% CI 28.7-30.0). The overall pooled prevalence due to co-infection with both parasites was 11.8% (95% CI 11.32-12.32). Also, subgroup analysis according to sex, age, diagnostic technique, equid species, region and publication years showed a substantial degree of heterogeneity across studies computed for both B. caballi and T. equi infections in equids. Awareness of the current status of EP globally will alert the relevant authorities and stakeholders where necessary on the need for better preventive and control strategies against the disease.
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de Oliveira MGC, Luna SPL, Nunes TL, Firmino PR, de Lima AGA, Ferreira J, Trindade PHE, Júnior RAB, de Paula VV. Post-operative pain behaviour associated with surgical castration in donkeys (Equus asinus). Equine Vet J 2020; 53:261-266. [PMID: 32525236 PMCID: PMC7891375 DOI: 10.1111/evj.13306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2019] [Revised: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Background Recognising pain in donkeys is challenging because they are stoic. Objectives To identify the responses of donkeys before and after surgical pain. Study design Prospective, short‐term longitudinal pre‐ and post‐intervention observations. Methods Forty adult donkeys underwent surgical castration after sedation with intravenous (IV) xylazine, induction with guaiphenesin/thiopental IV and maintenance of anaesthesia with isoflurane and local anaesthetic blockade. Four hours after recovery from anaesthesia, flunixin meglumine 1.1 mg/kg, dipyrone 10 mg/kg and morphine 0.2 mg/kg IV were administered. Behavioural responses exhibited by the animals housed in individual stalls were recorded in four 30‐min videos: before castration (M0), and 3.5‐4.0 hours (M1), 5.5‐6.0 hours (M2) and 23.5‐24.0 hours after recovery from anaesthesia (M3). To exclude the influence of insects, the behaviour of six apparently pain‐free donkeys was compared with and without the presence of faeces and urine in the stall. Results When compared with presurgical baseline behaviours (M0), after surgery (M1) donkeys raised their pelvic limbs more (P = .003). When compared with M1, after analgesia (M2), the median frequencies of ear movements (44 vs 16; P < .001), head shaking (7 vs 1; P < .001), head turning (5 vs 0; P < .001) and lifting of the both limbs (7 vs 0; P = .008) decreased; feeding (0 vs 29; P < .001) and water intake (0 vs 0, range 0‐1 vs 0‐7; P = .05) increased. The dirty stall increased tail (53 vs 80; P = .03), head (16 vs 30; P = .03) and ear movements (50 vs 78; P = .04). Main limitations The dirty stall and presence of insects possibly contributed to the expression of behaviours unrelated to pain. Conclusion Lifting the pelvic limbs was the only specific pain behaviour after castration in donkeys. Analgesia restored appetite and water intake and reduced the frequency of head shaking and turning, ear movement and lifting the limbs. Tail, head and ear movements are unspecific responses related both to pain and a dirty stall, and are confounding factors when pain is assessed in donkeys in the presence of insects.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Paulo R Firmino
- Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido (UFERSA), Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
| | - Amara Gyane A de Lima
- Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido (UFERSA), Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
| | - Josiel Ferreira
- Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido (UFERSA), Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
| | | | - Raimundo A B Júnior
- Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido (UFERSA), Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil
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Jerele S, Davis E, Mapes S, Pusterla N, Navas González FJ, Iglesias Pastrana C, Abdelfattah EM, McLean A. Survey of Serum Amyloid A and Bacterial and Viral Frequency Using qPCR Levels in Recently Captured Feral Donkeys from Death Valley National Park (California). Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10061086. [PMID: 32585994 PMCID: PMC7341296 DOI: 10.3390/ani10061086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Revised: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Feral donkey removal from state land has raised concerns in terms of disease transmission between equine species. Disease outbreaks may occur as a result of the relocation of animals to new environments. Virus and bacteria DNA load and serum amyloid A derived from the pathogenic processes that they involve were measured in recently captured donkeys. Blood and nasal swabs were collected from 85 donkeys (Death Valley National Park, Shoshone, California); 24 were retested after 30/60 days in the Scenic (Arizona) long-term holding facility co-mingled with feral donkeys from Arizona and Utah. Quantitative Real-Time PCR (qPCR) was performed to detect viral and bacterial genomic material (equine influenza A [EIV], equine rhinitis A and B viruses, AHV-2, AHV-3, AHV-5 and EHV-1, EHV-4, Streptococcus equi subspecies equi and zooepidemicus,). Significant relations between behavior, body condition score, nasal discharge, and coughing were found in donkeys for which AHV-2 and Streptococcus zooepidemicus DNA was detected. Higher SAA concentrations were found in foals. AHV-2 and Streptococcus zooepidemicus DNA concentrations significantly differed between sampling moments (p < 0.05). In conclusion, donkeys do not appear to be a substantial risk for disease transmission to horses but could be if they carried strangles or other processes in which AHV-2 and Streptococcus zooepidemicus were involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Jerele
- International Animal Welfare Training Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95617, USA; (S.J.); (E.D.)
| | - Eric Davis
- International Animal Welfare Training Institute, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95617, USA; (S.J.); (E.D.)
| | - Samantha Mapes
- Equine Viral Disease Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95617, USA; (S.M.); (N.P.)
| | - Nicola Pusterla
- Equine Viral Disease Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95617, USA; (S.M.); (N.P.)
| | - Francisco Javier Navas González
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain;
- The Worldwide Donkey Breeds Project, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain
- Correspondence: (F.J.N.G.); (A.M.); Tel.: +34-651-679-262 (F.J.N.G.); +1706-296-8743 (A.M.)
| | - Carlos Iglesias Pastrana
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain;
- The Worldwide Donkey Breeds Project, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain
| | - Essam Mahmoud Abdelfattah
- Department of Animal Hygiene, and Veterinary Management, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, Qalubiya Governorate 13511, Egypt;
| | - Amy McLean
- The Worldwide Donkey Breeds Project, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain
- Department of Animal Science, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
- Correspondence: (F.J.N.G.); (A.M.); Tel.: +34-651-679-262 (F.J.N.G.); +1706-296-8743 (A.M.)
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Dai F, Dalla Costa E, Cannas S, Heinzl EUL, Minero M, Mazzola SM. May Salivary Chromogranin A Act as a Physiological Index of Stress in Transported Donkeys? A Pilot Study. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:E972. [PMID: 32503233 DOI: 10.3390/ani10060972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Revised: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Road transport is known to be a stressful animal husbandry procedure as it induces the activation of two main physiological stress-related pathways: the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal cortex axis and the sympathetic-adrenal medulla axis. This preliminary study aimed to investigate whether salivary chromogranin A (CgA) concentration, known as a biomarker of the sympathetic activity system during psychological stress, may represent a novel physiological index of transportation-induced stress in donkeys. Nineteen Romagnolo donkeys, raised in groups on paddocks, were subject to two transportations, following the farm's routine procedures, for a mean duration of 64 min each on two consecutive days. Salivary samples were gently collected 15 min before and 15 min after each transportation. Salivary CgA was measured by a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test. Results showed that CgA salivary levels significantly decreased after both transportations. The physiological mechanisms underlying this result may be related to catestatin activity, a bioactive product of the proteolytic cleavage of CgA, that acts as an inhibitor of catecholamine release. This hypothesis requires further investigation, particularly considering the limited number of subjects involved in this preliminary study. The identification of a reliable and non-invasive stress-marker would represent a useful tool for improving farm animals' welfare in transport conditions.
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Molini U, Zaccaria G, Kandiwa E, Mushonga B, Khaiseb S, Ntahonshikira C, Chiwome B, Baines I, Madzingira O, Savini G, D'Alterio N. Seroprevalence of African horse sickness in selected donkey populations in Namibia. Vet World 2020; 13:1005-1009. [PMID: 32636601 PMCID: PMC7311865 DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2020.1005-1009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2019] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and Aim: African horse sickness (AHS) is a non-contagious viral disease of horses and other equids caused by an arbovirus belonging to the Reoviridae family and genus Orbivirus. AHS is an endemic disease that is responsible for the death of a high number of horses every year in Namibia. At present, there is no information on the prevalence and distribution of AHS virus (AHSV) serotypes in the different regions of Namibia. Therefore, this survey aimed to fill this knowledge gap by investigating the AHSV seroprevalence in Namibian donkeys. Materials and Methods: A total of 260 blood samples (20 samples for each region) were randomly collected from donkeys aged between 3 and 5 years. Sera were screened for AHSV-specific immunoglobulin G antibodies using acommercial competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit and samples positive to AHSV antibodies were further tested by serum neutralization (SN) assay to evaluate the AHSV serotype-specific immune response. Results: Seroprevalence of antibodies against AHSV in Namibian donkeys was 63.5%. The AHSV prevalence was significantly higher in the northern region (64%) than in the southern region (36%). A significantly (p<0.05) higher number of donkeys had antibodies against AHSV-6 (37.8%) and AHSV-9 (37.8%). The AHSV-2, AHSV-6, and AHSV-9 prevalence were higher (p<0.05) in the northern regions compared to the southern regions. None of the donkeys in this study, however, tested positive for AHSV-8. Conclusion: Results of the current study indicate that all AHSV serotypes have either circulated previously or are circulating in Namibia except for AHSV-8. In particular, AHSV-1, -2, -3, -4, -5, -6, and -9 serotypes have circulated or are circulating in the northern region of Namibia, while AHSV-1, -4, -5, -6, -7, and -9 have infected donkeys in the south. AHSV-9 and AHSV-6 were the most prevalent serotypes detected in donkeys in this study. SN results showed that several donkeys from Kavango East, Kavango West, and Ohangwena regions had been exposed to multiple serotypes, indicating the possibility of cocirculation of several strains in Namibia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Umberto Molini
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Namibia, Neudamm Campus, Namibia
| | - Guendalina Zaccaria
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G. Caporale" 64100 Teramo Italy
| | - Erick Kandiwa
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Namibia, Neudamm Campus, Namibia
| | - Borden Mushonga
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Namibia, Neudamm Campus, Namibia
| | - Siegfried Khaiseb
- Department of Virology, Central Veterinary Laboratory, 24 Goethe Street, Windhoek, Namibia
| | - Charles Ntahonshikira
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Namibia, Neudamm Campus, Namibia
| | - Bernard Chiwome
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Namibia, Neudamm Campus, Namibia
| | - Ian Baines
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Namibia, Neudamm Campus, Namibia
| | - Oscar Madzingira
- Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Namibia, Neudamm Campus, Namibia
| | - Giovanni Savini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G. Caporale" 64100 Teramo Italy
| | - Nicola D'Alterio
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise "G. Caporale" 64100 Teramo Italy
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Papini RA, Orsetti C, Sgorbini M. A Controlled Study on Efficacy and Egg Reappearance Period of Ivermectin in Donkeys Naturally Infected with Small Strongyles. Helminthologia 2020; 57:163-70. [PMID: 32518493 DOI: 10.2478/helm-2020-0017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2019] [Accepted: 01/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to investigate the efficacy and the egg reappearance period (ERP) of ivermectin (IVM) in donkeys during a 13-week period. The study involved a total of 14 adult Amiata breed donkeys, 7 - 13 years of age, and naturally infected with small strongyles. A group of 10 donkeys was treated with IVM oral paste at a dose rate of 200 mcg/kg BW. Another group of 4 donkeys was kept as untreated control group. Faecal samples were collected and examined for strongyle eggs on day 0 before treatment. IVM efficacy was based on the faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) on day 14 post-treatment. Then individual faecal samples were collected and examined by FECRT at weekly intervals. A FECRT of 100 % was found after treatment with IVM and its ERP, defined as the week when the mean FECRT decreased until to become lower than 90 %efficacy, was estimated to be 11 weeks without signs of developing anthelmintic resistance. No adverse reactions were observed during the study period. Our findings may be useful to veterinary practitioners and breeders as they show that IVM, at the recommended dose rate, can be still considered a highly effective and safe pharmacological tool for the treatment of small strongyles in donkeys. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that all possible strategies are undertaken to avoid the risk of emergence of anthelmintic resistance to IVM in donkeys.
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Watson TL, Kubasiewicz LM, Chamberlain N, Nye C, Raw Z, Burden FA. Cultural "Blind Spots," Social Influence and the Welfare of Working Donkeys in Brick Kilns in Northern India. Front Vet Sci 2020; 7:214. [PMID: 32411736 PMCID: PMC7201042 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) work across the globe to improve the welfare of working equids. Despite decades of veterinary and other interventions, welfare issues persist with equids working in brick kilns. Engagement with all stakeholders is integral to creating abiding improvements to working equid welfare as interventions based purely on reactive measures fail to provide sustainable solutions. Equid owners, particularly those in low to middle-income countries (LMICs), may have issues such as opportunity, capacity, gender or socio-economic status, overriding their ability to care well for their own equids. These “blind spots” are frequently overlooked when organizations develop intervention programs to improve welfare. This study aims to highlight the lives of the poorest members of Indian society, and will focus on working donkeys specifically as they were the only species of working equids present in the kilns visited. We discuss culture, status, religion, and social influences, including insights into the complexities of cultural “blind spots” which complicate efforts by NGOs to improve working donkey welfare when the influence of different cultural and societal pressures are not recognized or acknowledged. Employing a mixed-methods approach, we used the Equid Assessment Research and Scoping (EARS) tool, a questionnaire based equid welfare assessment tool, to assess the welfare of working donkeys in brick kilns in Northern India. In addition, using livelihoods surveys and semi-structured interviews, we established owner demographics, socioeconomic status, ethnicity, religion and their personal accounts of their working lives and relationships to their donkeys. During transcript analysis six themes emerged: caste, ethnicity, inherited knowledge; social status, and impacts of ethnic group and caste; social status and gender; migration and shared suffering; shared suffering, compassion; religious belief, species hierarchy. The lives led by these, marginalized communities of low status are driven by poverty, exposing them to exploitation, lack of community cohesion, and community conflicts through migratory, transient employment. This vulnerability influences the care and welfare of their working donkeys, laying bare the inextricable link between human and animal welfare. Cultural and social perspectives, though sometimes overlooked, are crucial to programs to improve welfare, where community engagement and participation are integral to their success.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Caroline Nye
- The Donkey Sanctuary, Devon, United Kingdom.,Centre for Rural Policy Research, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
| | - Zoe Raw
- The Donkey Sanctuary, Devon, United Kingdom
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Sunday Idoko I, Tirosh-Levy S, Leszkowicz Mazuz M, Mohammed Adam B, Sikiti Garba B, Wesley Nafarnda D, Steinman A. Genetic Characterization of Piroplasms in Donkeys and Horses from Nigeria. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:E324. [PMID: 32085574 DOI: 10.3390/ani10020324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2020] [Revised: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 02/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Theileria equi and Babesia caballi are blood-parasites of horses and donkeys that are transmitted by ticks and may cause severe clinical illness. Many infected animals are carriers of parasites without showing signs of disease and, thus, pose a risk of transmission. Nigeria is a major passageway in animal import, export and transport within Africa. This movement of animals may play a key role in the spread of parasites. The aim of this study was to characterize these parasites that infect both horses and donkeys in Nigeria. Blood was collected from horses and draught-donkeys at two separately-owned farms in northern Nigeria. Infection with T. equi was detected in both donkeys and horses, with four of the five known genotypes present in Africa. Infection with a single genotype of B. caballi was detected in donkeys. Our results suggest that donkeys may be an important reservoir of these parasites. The high diversity of T. equi supports the hypothesis that animal transport through Nigeria may contribute to the spread of parasites to and from other countries in the region. Abstract Equine piroplasmosis (EP) is a tick-borne disease of equids, caused by the two haemoprotozoal parasites: Theileria equi and Babesia caballi. Nigeria constitutes a major crossroads of animal transport in West Africa and may serve as a factor in EP dissemination in the region. The study aim was to characterize EP parasites in donkeys and horses in northern Nigeria using a molecular approach. Blood was collected from 57 donkeys and 47 horses. EP infection was detected and characterized by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Twenty five donkeys (43.8%) were infected with T. equi, five (8.8%) with B. caballi, three (5.3%) with dual infections. Four horses (8.5%) were infected by T. equi and none by B. caballi. Four of the five known T. equi 18S rRNA genotypes (A, B, C and D) were identified. Theileria equi ema-1 and ema-2 genes were amplified in only 2 and 10 samples, respectively, showing no genetic variation. All B. caballi isolates were classified as rap-1 genotype A1. Twenty-two (42.3%) of the donkeys were positive for anti-T. equi antibodies and 29 (55.8%) were positive for anti-B. caballi antibodies, using immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT). The study results demonstrate high genetic variation within T. equi parasites, suggesting that donkeys may be reservoirs of EP parasites in West Africa.
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Rui P, Zhao F, Yan S, Wang C, Fu Q, Hao J, Zhou X, Zhong H, Tang M, Hui W, Li W, Shi D, Ma Z, Song T. Detection of hepatitis E virus genotypes 3 and 4 in donkeys in northern China. Equine Vet J 2019; 52:415-419. [PMID: 31746470 DOI: 10.1111/evj.13203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Accepted: 10/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the causative agent of acute self-limiting hepatitis in humans in developing countries. Hepatitis E virus RNA was first detected in donkeys in Spain, but little is known about the possible presence of HEV in donkeys in China. OBJECTIVES To investigate the prevalence of HEV in donkeys in northern China. STUDY DESIGN Investigation of the prevalence of HEV in donkeys using serological, molecular and phylogenetic approaches. METHODS A total of 401 donkey serum specimens were tested for serological and molecular detection of HEV via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The amplified products were cloned in pMD18-T vector and sequenced. The alignment and phylogenetic analysis of partial HEV ORF2 genes were compared with the corresponding sequences of the obtained HEV representative strains. RESULTS Serological results showed that 49 donkeys (12.22%, 95% CI: 9.18-15.83%) were positive for anti-HEV-specific antibodies, and 17 donkeys (4.24%, 95% CI: 2.49-6.70%) were positive for HEV viral RNA. On the basis of sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis, all isolated HEV strains belonged to genotype 3 (HEV-3) or HEV-4, sharing more than 76.2-96.3% identities with 67 other HEV representative strains of HEV-1 to HEV-8. MAIN LIMITATIONS Further studies about the prevalence of HEV in organs or faecal samples from donkeys are needed to evaluate the possible role of HEV reservoir and to determine the risk factors associated with the transmission of this zoonotic virus in donkeys in China. CONCLUSIONS This is the first report documenting the molecular analysis of donkey HEV strains worldwide and the serological evidence of HEV infection in donkeys in northern China. The results suggest that young donkeys are more susceptible to HEV infection compared with older donkeys. Further investigation is required to determine whether donkeys should be considered reservoirs for zoonotic HEV. The Summary is available in Chinese - see Supporting information.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Rui
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Technology, Hebei Normal University of Science and Technology, Qinhuangdao, Hebei, China
| | - F Zhao
- National Engineering Research Center for Gelatin-based TCM, Dong-E E-Jiao Co., Ltd., Donge, Shandong, China
| | - S Yan
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Technology, Hebei Normal University of Science and Technology, Qinhuangdao, Hebei, China
| | - C Wang
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Technology, Hebei Normal University of Science and Technology, Qinhuangdao, Hebei, China
| | - Q Fu
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Technology, Hebei Normal University of Science and Technology, Qinhuangdao, Hebei, China
| | - J Hao
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Technology, Hebei Normal University of Science and Technology, Qinhuangdao, Hebei, China
| | - X Zhou
- National Engineering Research Center for Gelatin-based TCM, Dong-E E-Jiao Co., Ltd., Donge, Shandong, China
| | - H Zhong
- College of Science, Henan University of Engineering, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - M Tang
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Technology, Hebei Normal University of Science and Technology, Qinhuangdao, Hebei, China
| | - W Hui
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Technology, Hebei Normal University of Science and Technology, Qinhuangdao, Hebei, China
| | - W Li
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Technology, Hebei Normal University of Science and Technology, Qinhuangdao, Hebei, China
| | - D Shi
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Technology, Hebei Normal University of Science and Technology, Qinhuangdao, Hebei, China
| | - Z Ma
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Technology, Hebei Normal University of Science and Technology, Qinhuangdao, Hebei, China
| | - T Song
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Animal Science and Technology, Hebei Normal University of Science and Technology, Qinhuangdao, Hebei, China
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Rayner E, Airikkala-Otter I, Susheelan A, Gibson A, Itaba R, Mayani T, Mellanby RJ, Gamble L. Prevalence of skin wounds in working donkeys in Bukombe, Tanzania. Vet Rec 2019; 186:284. [PMID: 31554710 DOI: 10.1136/vr.105399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2019] [Revised: 07/17/2019] [Accepted: 08/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Preventable wounds are a common welfare issue in working donkeys in many countries. In the Bukombe District of Tanzania, there are estimated to be 3000 working donkeys, used primarily to transport loads for direct income generation. For historical reasons, oxen-yoke carts are used; their design is inappropriate for donkeys and results in serious neck wounds. The project aim was to assess the prevalence and nature of wounds in working donkeys. METHODS In November 2018, 148 donkeys owned by 48 owners were examined, and data were collected. RESULTS The study revealed that one or more wounds were present in 56.1% of the population and yoke-related, dorsal neck wounds comprised 79.5% of these. These wounds ranged in surface area from 1 cm2 to 300 cm2. Clinically, 96.6% of all wound types were superficial and the majority of these (51.1%) were granulating. CONCLUSION These data will enable the future evaluation of targeted interventions aimed at reducing the prevalence of these specific wounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Rayner
- Worldwide Veterinary Service (WVS), 4 Castle Street, Cranborne, BH21 5PZ, Dorset, UK
| | - Ilona Airikkala-Otter
- Worldwide Veterinary Service, International Training Centre, Gramya Bhavan, RDO Trust Building, Aruvankadu, The Nilgiris 643202, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Aswin Susheelan
- Worldwide Veterinary Service, International Training Centre, Gramya Bhavan, RDO Trust Building, Aruvankadu, The Nilgiris 643202, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Andrew Gibson
- Worldwide Veterinary Service (WVS), 4 Castle Street, Cranborne, BH21 5PZ, Dorset, UK
| | - Richard Itaba
- Tanzania Humane Charity, P.O. Box 80197, ILALA, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Thomas Mayani
- Tanzania Humane Charity, P.O. Box 80197, ILALA, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Richard J Mellanby
- Division of Veterinary Clinical Studies, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and the Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Edinburgh, EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Luke Gamble
- Worldwide Veterinary Service (WVS), 4 Castle Street, Cranborne, BH21 5PZ, Dorset, UK
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Azab W, Bedair S, Abdelgawad A, Eschke K, Farag GK, Abdel-Raheim A, Greenwood AD, Osterrieder N, Ali AAH. Detection of equid herpesviruses among different Arabian horse populations in Egypt. Vet Med Sci 2019; 5:361-371. [PMID: 31149784 PMCID: PMC7155215 DOI: 10.1002/vms3.176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Equid herpesviruses (EHVs) threaten equine health and can cause significant economic losses to the equine industry worldwide. Different equid herpesviruses, EHV-1, EHV-2, EHV-4 and EHV5 are regularly detected among horse populations. In Egypt, monitoring is sporadic but EHV-1 or EHV-4 have been reported to circulate in the horse population. However, there is a lack of reports related to infection and health status of horses, likely due to the absence of regular diagnostic procedures. In the current study, the circulation of four infectious equid herpesviruses (EHV-1, EHV-2, EHV-4 and EHV-5) among different Arabian horse populations and donkeys residing the same farm was monitored. Different samples were collected and DNA was extracted and subjected to quantitative (q)-PCR to detect the four equid herpesviruses using specific primers and probes. Antibody titres against EHV-1 and EHV-4 were tested using virus neutralization test and type-specific ELISA. The results showed that EHV-1, EHV-2, EHV-4 and EHV-5 are endemic and can be a continuous threat for horses in the absence of vaccination programs and frequent virus reactivation. There is an urgent need for introduction of active regular surveillance measures to investigate the presence of different equid herpesviruses, and other equine viral pathogens, in various horse populations around Egypt and to establish a standardized cataloguing of equine health status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walid Azab
- Institut für Virologie, Robert von Ostertag-Haus, Zentrum für Infektionsmedizin, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sameh Bedair
- Department of Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
| | - Azza Abdelgawad
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
| | - Kathrin Eschke
- Institut für Virologie, Robert von Ostertag-Haus, Zentrum für Infektionsmedizin, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gemelat K Farag
- Department of Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
| | - Ali Abdel-Raheim
- Department of Gynecology and Artificial Insemination, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
| | - Alex D Greenwood
- Department of Wildlife Diseases, Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Nikolaus Osterrieder
- Institut für Virologie, Robert von Ostertag-Haus, Zentrum für Infektionsmedizin, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ahmed A H Ali
- Department of Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
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Dong J, Gao N, Waller AS, Cook FR, Fan S, Yuan D, Du Y, Li F, Norimine J, Zhu W. An outbreak of strangles associated with a novel genotype of Streptococcus equi subspecies equi in donkeys in China during 2018. Equine Vet J 2019; 51:743-748. [PMID: 30900775 DOI: 10.1111/evj.13114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Accepted: 03/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Strangles is a highly contagious respiratory disease of equids caused by the bacterium Streptococcus equi subspecies equi. OBJECTIVES To identify the cause of an outbreak of strangles that occurred on donkey farms within the Shandong Province of China and determine the prevalence of the disease. STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional. METHODS Samples were taken from clinically affected animals to measure the prevalence of strangles within the population of donkeys at six intensive farms in China and identify the SeM type of isolate recovered from affected animals. Diagnosis was confirmed by bacterial isolation, biochemical tests and PCR. Epidemiological data were analysed using Chi-square test and a Fisher's exact two-sided test. The SeM gene of S. equi isolates recovered from affected animals was determined and compared with the SeM database PubMLST-seM. RESULTS In July and August 2018, an outbreak of strangles occurred on six donkey farms within the Shandong Province of China. The overall prevalence of disease within the different donkey herds was 13.4%. Younger animals were worst affected with 40.3% (83/206) of donkey foals aged under 1 year exhibiting clinical signs compared with 12.5% (191/1525) of donkeys aged one to 2 years and 3.8% (17/442) of donkeys over 2 years of age. Analysis of SeM sequencing data identified that the farms were affected by the same strain of S. equi, SD201807, which contains the novel 136 allele of SeM. MAIN LIMITATIONS Healthy donkeys were not sampled in this study. CONCLUSIONS The number of intensive donkey breeding farms in China has risen recently. The higher numbers of animals that are in closer proximity to one another raise the potential for the transmission of infectious diseases such as strangles. This is the first description of a strangles outbreak among donkey herds in China. The Summary is available in Chinese - see Supporting information.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Dong
- Department of Veterinary Medical Science, Shandong Vocational Animal Science and Veterinary College, Weifang, China.,Shandong Donkey Industry Technology Collaborative Innovation Center, College of Agronomy, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, China.,Center for Animal Disease Control, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
| | - N Gao
- Department of Veterinary Medical Science, Shandong Vocational Animal Science and Veterinary College, Weifang, China
| | | | - F R Cook
- Department of Veterinary Science, Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - S Fan
- Department of Veterinary Medical Science, Shandong Vocational Animal Science and Veterinary College, Weifang, China
| | - D Yuan
- Department of Veterinary Medical Science, Shandong Vocational Animal Science and Veterinary College, Weifang, China
| | - Y Du
- Department of Veterinary Medical Science, Shandong Vocational Animal Science and Veterinary College, Weifang, China
| | - F Li
- Department of Veterinary Medical Science, Shandong Vocational Animal Science and Veterinary College, Weifang, China
| | - J Norimine
- Center for Animal Disease Control, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan
| | - W Zhu
- Department of Veterinary Medical Science, Shandong Vocational Animal Science and Veterinary College, Weifang, China.,Shandong Donkey Industry Technology Collaborative Innovation Center, College of Agronomy, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, China
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Attia MM, Khalifa MM, Atwa MT. The prevalence and intensity of external and internal parasites in working donkeys ( Equus asinus) in Egypt. Vet World 2018; 11:1298-1306. [PMID: 30410237 PMCID: PMC6200562 DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2018.1298-1306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2018] [Accepted: 07/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim This study aims to record and update the prevalence and intensity of external and internal parasites in working donkeys (Equus asinus) in Egypt during the period from January to December 2017. Materials and Methods A total of 120 donkeys (10 donkeys each month) were examined at Giza zoo abattoir through bimonthly visits. The examined donkeys were obtained from five governorates (Giza [20], Fayoum [40], Beni Suef [30], Monofia [20], and Assiut [10]). The animals were grouped according to age and sex. Results All examined donkeys were positive with at least one internal or even external parasitic species. The overall prevalence rate was 100%. A total of 11 helminths species (10 nematodes and 1 metacestode); 7 protozoal and 7 arthropod species were collected. The number of each parasite and intensity of infection with regard to age and sex was recorded. Conclusion All examined donkeys were infected with parasites with an overall prevalence of 100%. So, we recommended following up and continuous treatment of such diseased animal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marwa M Attia
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
| | - Marwa M Khalifa
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
| | - Marwa Th Atwa
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Al-Fayoum University, Egypt
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49
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Collins JA, Wall PG, Duggan VE. Use of registered donkeys on the areas of natural constraint scheme in Ireland. Vet Rec 2018; 183:298. [PMID: 29934398 PMCID: PMC6145283 DOI: 10.1136/vr.104355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2017] [Revised: 02/02/2018] [Accepted: 04/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Data concerning the numbers, locations and types of donkeys being officially registered (passported) in Ireland (32 counties) via horse passport issuing organisations were gathered. The numbers of agricultural area aid scheme (Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC)) applicants registering passported donkeys (as compared with horses) as livestock units (LUs), the numbers of donkeys they registered and the value of payments that thus accrued to the applicants are also reported for each of 26 counties for the years 2012 to 2014 inclusive. Equids have not been eligible for equivalent agricultural schemes in the six counties of Northern Ireland. Horse Sport Ireland registration data shows that two-thirds of almost 8000 donkey passport applicants over a 10-year period came from counties Galway and Mayo and that only one-third of donkeys registered were male. As per ANC figures reported here for 2014, there were over 2500 donkeys registered as LUs on ANC, at a payment value to their keepers (in the 26 counties) of almost €1.6M. Future iterations of the ANC scheme are currently under review with regard to limiting donkey eligibility criteria, for example, to females and neutered males. The future monetary value of (some) donkeys could be adversely affected by restrictions in eligibility and by the uncertainty engendered by the prospect of change with the potential for unintended consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Patrick G Wall
- School of Public Health and Population Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Vivienne E Duggan
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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50
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Rayner EL, Airikkala-Otter I, Susheelan A, Mellanby RJ, Meunier NV, Gibson A, Gamble L. Prevalence of mutilations and other skin wounds in working donkeys in Tamil Nadu, India. Vet Rec 2018; 183:450. [PMID: 30121636 DOI: 10.1136/vr.104863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2018] [Revised: 05/02/2018] [Accepted: 06/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Wounds in working donkeys are a common and preventable welfare problem in many countries. Mutilations, iatrogenic injuries carried out by owners, are a particularly distressing welfare issue. However, little is known about their nature and prevalence. The project aim was to assess the general health and establish the prevalence, nature and severity of mutilations and other skin wounds in donkeys from several communities in Tamil Nadu, India, that were part of a donkey welfare initiative run by the Worldwide Veterinary Service charity. Five hundred and eighty-two donkeys were examined from five locations and data collected using a predesigned, smartphone app between October 2016 and July 2017. The study revealed that 298 wounds were present in a total of 227 donkeys (39.0 per cent of the population). Mutilations, comprising nose-splitting, ear-splitting and branding, were the most common type of skin wound, comprising 62.8 per cent of all wounds. Poorly fitting harnesses and hobbles were also a common cause of injury. These data can be used to design future-targeted and focused, educational interventions to reduce mutilation practices which are a common and important welfare issue. Further outreach initiatives are urgently needed to improve welfare of donkeys in these regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma L Rayner
- National Infection Service, Public Health England, Salisbury, UK.,Worldwide Veterinary Service (WVS), Cranborne, UK
| | - Ilona Airikkala-Otter
- Worldwide Veterinary Service, India International Training Centre, The Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Aswin Susheelan
- Worldwide Veterinary Service, India International Training Centre, The Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Richard J Mellanby
- Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, The University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, UK
| | - Natascha V Meunier
- Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, The University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, UK
| | | | - Luke Gamble
- Worldwide Veterinary Service (WVS), Cranborne, UK
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