Skin Diseases in Donkeys and Mules-An Update

Hematological and Biochemical Responses of Donkeys (Equus asinus) to Packing and Trekking During the Hot-Dry Season

The study aimed to evaluate effects of packing (load-carrying) and trekking on hematological and biochemical parameters in donkeys during the hot-dry season. Ten pack donkeys, aged 2-3 years, weighing 93 ± 2.7 kg were enrolled in the study and randomly divided into two groups of five animals each. Group 1 donkeys were subjected to packing + trekking while group 2 trekked only. All the donkeys trekked 20 km thrice, 1-day apart. Blood was collected before and after packing or trekking for hematological evaluation; and serum analyzed for electrolyte concentrations, and aspartate aminotransferase, creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase activities. Temperature-humidity index pre and postpacking was 70.00 ± 0.1 and 79.67 ± 0.3, respectively. The packed cell volume (30.93 ± 1.1%) was higher (P < .05) before packing than postpacking value (27.83 ± 0.7%) in group 1 donkeys. Hemoglobin concentration (9.01 ± 0.3 g/dL) decreased (P < .05) after trekking (7.81 ± 0.1 g/dL) in group 2 donkeys. Neutrophil count increased (P < .05) in group 1 donkeys after packing (from 8.63 ± 0.9 × 10⁹/L to 10.59 ± 1.2 × 10⁹/L). Lymphocyte count (8.58 ± 0.8 × 10⁹/L) decreased (P < .05), compared to postpacking (5.23 ± 0.5 × 10⁹/L) in group 1 donkeys. Postpacking neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio in group 1 donkeys (2.33 ± 0.4) was higher (P < .05) than in group 2 donkeys (1.31 ± 0.3). Electrolyte concentrations and enzyme activities did not change significantly. In conclusion, packing + trekking was more stressful to the donkeys than trekking only, evidenced by postpacking increased neutrophil count, neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio and phosphate ion concentration, but decreased lymphocyte count. If this stress is not mitigated, the performance of pack donkeys during hot-dry season may not be optimum.

Effect of packing (load carrying) on body temperatures and their circadian rhythms in donkeys (Equus asinus) during the hot-dry season

The study aimed to evaluate the effects of packing (load carrying) on rectal and body surface temperatures and their circadian rhythmicity in donkeys during the hot-dry season. Twenty pack donkeys of both sexes (15 males and 5 non-pregnant females), aged 2-3 years, with average weight of 93 ± 2.7 kg and divided into two groups randomly, served as experimental subjects. Group 1 donkeys (packing + trekking) were subjected to packing in addition to trekking, while group 2 (trekking only) did not carry any load. All the donkeys were trekked, covering a distance of 20 km. The procedure was repeated three times within the week, one day apart. During the experiment, dry-bulb temperature (DBT), relative humidity (RH) and temperature-humidity index (THI), wind speed and topsoil temperature were recorded; and rectal temperature (RT) and body surface temperature (BST) were measured before and immediately after packing. Starting from 16 h after the last packing, circadian rhythms of RT and BST were recorded at 3-h intervals for 27-h period. The RT and BST were measured by digital thermometer and non-contact infrared thermometer, respectively. The DBT and RH, especially after packing (35.83 ± 0.2 °C and 20.00 ± 0.0%, respectively), were outside the thermoneutral zone for donkeys. The RT value (38.63 ± 0.1 °C) in packing + trekking donkeys recorded immediately (15 min) after packing was higher (P < 0.05) than the value obtained in trekking only donkeys (37.27 ± 0.1 °C). The overall mean RT recorded during the continuous 27-h period of measurement, starting from 16 h after the last packing procedure was higher (P < 0.05) in packing + trekking donkeys (36.93 ± 0.2 °C) compared with trekking only donkeys (36.29 ± 0.3 °C). The BSTs recorded in both groups were higher (P < 0.05) immediately after packing when compared with pre-packing values, but insignificant 16-h post-packing. The RT and BST values were generally higher in the photophase and lower during the scotophase in both groups of donkeys during the continuous recordings. The eye temperature was the closest to the RT, followed by scapular temperature, while the coronary band temperature was the farthest. The mesor of RT in packing + trekking donkeys (37.06 ± 0.2 °C) was significantly higher than in donkeys that were trekked only (36.46 ± 0.1 °C). The amplitude of RT in trekking only donkeys (1.20 ± 0.1 °C) was wider (P < 0.05) than that obtained in packing + trekking donkeys (0.80 ± 0.1 °C). The acrophase and bathyphase occurred later in packing + trekking donkeys (18:10 ± 0.3 h and 6:10 ± 0.3 h, respectively), compared to the trekking only donkeys (16:50 ± 0.2 h and 4:50 ± 0.2 h, respectively). In conclusion, exposure to thermally stressful prevailing environmental conditions during packing increased the body temperature responses, especially in packing + trekking donkeys. Packing significantly influenced the circadian rhythms of body temperatures in working donkeys, as evidenced by differences in circadian rhythm parameters in packing + trekking group, compared with trekking only donkeys during the hot-dry season.

Melatonin modulates rectal and body surface temperatures and their circadian rhythmicity in donkeys (Equus asinus) subjected to packing during the hot-dry season

The study aimed to evaluate the effects of melatonin administration on rectal and body surface temperature (RT and BST, respectively) responses and their circadian rhythmicity in donkeys subjected to packing (load carrying) during the hot-dry season. Twenty donkeys were divided into two equal groups randomly: Groups 1 (packing + melatonin) and 2 (packing - melatonin), subjected to packing and both covered 20 km. The RT, BST, and thermal environmental parameters were measured before and after packing. The procedure was carried out three times within the week, one day apart. This was followed 16-h after the last (third) packing procedure by 27-h recording period of all the parameters at 3-h intervals. The RT (37.77 ± 0.1℃) recorded in packing + melatonin donkeys was lower (P < 0.05) than in (packing - melatonin) (38.29 ± 0.1℃) post-packing, while the BSTs in packing + melatonin donkeys were lower than in (packing - melatonin) donkeys, especially the neck (33.07 ± 0.6℃ vs 35.4 ± 0.7℃, respectively) and coronary band (30.58 ± 0.5℃ vs 33.38 ± 0.7℃, respectively) temperatures. In both groups 16-h post-packing, overall mean RT and BST values were not different, except the coronary band temperature (26.61 ± 0.8℃) that was lower (P < 0.05) in packing + melatonin donkeys than (packing - melatonin) donkeys (28.78 ± 1.4℃). Melatonin-exerted biphasic effects on circadian rhythms of RT and BSTs by reducing body temperatures during the photophase and increasing the values during the scotophase in pack donkeys. In conclusion, melatonin may enhance packing output in donkeys during the hot-dry season.

Participatory appraisal for healthcare and welfare management strategies of donkeys (Equus ascinus) in Balochistan, Pakistan

In spite of the significant importance of the donkeys (Equus ascinus) as draft animal in resource-poor countries like Pakistan, they are equines not receiving the appropriate care. They face challenges including injuries, diseases, lack of basic environment and mismanagement by their owners. The present study aims to provide a brief update on the current status of management of healthcare and the welfare of domestic donkeys using participatory epidemiological tools. These tools can help to provide better strategies for improving their productivity and inclusion in human society. This study was mainly focused only on donkeys and horses, mules and ponies were excluded from the study. We carried out a systematic review of the relevant available published literature and shortlisted 50 articles reporting on the different health related characteristics of donkeys. A comprehensive questionnaire was completed by 191 donkey owners, including nine farriers (all men, average age = 38.24 ± 12.43) over a time span from October 2021 to March 2022. Multivariate Odds Ratios (MORs) and 95% confidence intervals were used to assess the predictions of health management and welfare measures for the surveyed donkeys. The most common observed medical problems in donkey health were hyperlipaemia (28.06%), lameness (16.33%) and dental (20.41%) problems. One-third (34.31%) of the donkeys were underweight. The dull donkey with poor appetite needs a clinical emergency owing to a high risk of developing hyperlipemia, which may be life-threatening. These findings are quite useful for the improvement of healthcare management and the welfare of donkeys.

Cutaneous epitheliotropic T-cell lymphoma in a donkey - a case report

Background

Cutaneous epitheliotropic T-cell lymphoma is a malignant tumour of the skin already reported in humans, dogs, cats, horses, and other species, but not previously in donkeys. The standard diagnosis is based on clinical, morphological and immunophenotypic data. Differentiation of malignant versus benign proliferation of lymphocytes is crucial; in ambiguous cases T-cell receptor gamma (TRG) molecular clonality should be tested. In the present paper, we report a case of mycosis fungoides diagnosed in a donkey whose diagnosis was based on clinical, histological and immunohistochemical aspects and a positive TRG clonality test.

Case presentation

A twenty-five-year-old donkey gelding was referred with a mildly pruritic, generalised and severe exfoliative dermatosis. Otherwise, the animal was clinically healthy, though mildly underweight. Dermatological examination revealed severe generalised alopecic and exfoliative dermatitis, occasionally eroded, with high number of large, thin, greyish scales. All mucocutaneous junctions except the hoofs were affected. Ectoparasites and dermatophytes were ruled out. The complete blood count and blood smear evaluation revealed mild normocytic normochromic anemia. The biochemistry panel showed mild hyperproteinemia with albumin within the normal range. Protein electrophoresis showed moderate polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia. Histological findings were characterised by interface dermatitis with massive exocytosis in the epidermis of a homogenous population of lymphoid cells showing atypia. Clusters of neoplastic cells were present within the epidermis forming Pautrier “microabscesses”. These findings are consistent with cutaneous epitheliotropic lymphoma. Immunohistochemical staining revealed uniform labelling of the neoplastic cells for CD3, and lack of expression of CD20 (a B cell lineage associated marker). Molecular clonality PCR (PARR) was performed using equine TRG primers; this revealed a clonal rearrangement in a heavy polyclonal background. Transmission electronic microscopy showed multiple lymphocytes with convoluted or cerebriform nuclei.

Conclusions

This case report provides the first evidence of clinical, histopathological, immunophenotypic features, electron microscopy findings and molecular analysis of a cutaneous epitheliotropic T-cell lymphoma (mycosis fungoides) in a donkey. Our observations suggest that cutaneous T-cell lymphoma should be included in the differential diagnoses of exfoliative dermatitis, even those progressing in a chronic pattern and/or with few or no pruritus.