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Animals
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Routine Healthcare and Management of the Donkey
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Routine Healthcare and Management of the Donkey

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Equids".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2022) | Viewed by 18199

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Karen Rickards

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
The Donkey Sanctuary, Sidmouth, Devon EX10 0NU, UK
Interests: equids; donkey; herd health; welfare assessments

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Donkeys can be found in many different environments globally, where they are kept for a range of purposes, including work, companionship and production. In all circumstances, routine preventative health care and husbandry are vital to maintain good health and welfare. Lack of preventative care is a major welfare issue for donkeys around the world, particularly as they may not display obvious clinical signs despite suffering from severe or even life-threatening conditions. This Special Issue is an exciting opportunity to showcase novel research designed specifically for the donkey, which will help to inform healthcare professionals globally, enabling them to develop healthcare programs specifically tailored for donkeys. We would therefore invite you to submit original research or reviews relating to dentistry, foot care, nutrition, parasite management, population control or infectious diseases, and their control.

Dr. Karen Rickards
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • dentistry
  • foot care
  • infectious disease
  • nutrition
  • parasite management
  • population control
  • vaccination

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

10 pages, 1783 KiB  
Article
Particle Size Distribution of Plasma Lipoproteins in Donkeys from Death Valley Compared to a Sampling of Horses
by Erin L. Goodrich and Erica Behling-Kelly
Animals 2022, 12(20), 2746; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12202746 - 13 Oct 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1647
Abstract
The clinical evaluation of lipid metabolism in equids is often limited to the measurement of total cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations. This provides a limited picture of metabolic state and general health, given the continuous exchange of lipid species between various lipoproteins. Major lipoprotein [...] Read more.
The clinical evaluation of lipid metabolism in equids is often limited to the measurement of total cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations. This provides a limited picture of metabolic state and general health, given the continuous exchange of lipid species between various lipoproteins. Major lipoprotein classes in equids include high-density lipoprotein (HDL), intermediate-density lipoprotein (IDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), and chylomicrons (CM). Unlike large breed horses, donkeys are highly susceptible to hepatic lipidosis. Currently, serum triglyceride concentrations serve as a surrogate marker of hepatic lipid exportation. Both VLDL, indicative of hepatic exportation, and its metabolic end-product, LDL, are rich in triglycerides, and contribute to this value. Diagnostic assays that distinguish VLDL from LDL could be useful in better recognizing the hepatic pathology in donkeys. The compositional differences of lipoproteins across species limit the use of commercially available assays developed for the measurement of human lipoproteins in domestic animals. In this study, we evaluated a high-resolution polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis method (Lipoprint®) for separating major lipoprotein classes and sub-fractionating LDL and HDL based on particle size in a large group of donkeys, and compared the pattern to a representative set of horses. Donkeys proved an HDL-rich species, with HDL accounting for the bulk of all lipoproteins (average 78.45%, SD 6.6%, range 92.2–55%). VLDL accounted for a large portion of the total (average 21.6%, SD 6.6%, range 37.1–7.8%), with minimal amounts of LDL detected. The horses tested had higher proportions of VLDL as compared to donkeys (31.7% and 21.6%, respectively p = 0.00008). The later finding draws into question the purported relationship between VLDL, high triglycerides, and hepatic lipidosis, given the incidence of the disease in donkeys is far higher than in horses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Routine Healthcare and Management of the Donkey)
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15 pages, 5125 KiB  
Article
Could Weaning Remodel the Oral Microbiota Composition in Donkeys? An Exploratory Study
by Zhenwei Zhang, Bingjian Huang, Yonghui Wang, Mingxia Zhu and Changfa Wang
Animals 2022, 12(16), 2024; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12162024 - 10 Aug 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1696
Abstract
As the initiation point of digestion, the oral microbiome is important in maintaining oral and systemic health. However, the composition of oral microbial communities and the influence of weaning on the oral microbiota of donkey foals remains poorly characterized. The present study used [...] Read more.
As the initiation point of digestion, the oral microbiome is important in maintaining oral and systemic health. However, the composition of oral microbial communities and the influence of weaning on the oral microbiota of donkey foals remains poorly characterized. The present study used buccal swab samples to determine the changes in oral microbial communities occurring at the time of weaning. A total of 20 oral swab samples were collected from two groups: preweaning donkey foals (PreW group, n = 10) and postweaning donkey foals (PostW group, n = 10). The donkey oral microbiome was analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing using Illumina MiSeq. This study is the first report of the donkey oral microbiome in association with weaning. Compared to the preweaning donkeys, the oral bacteria diversity in the postweaning donkeys was increased, with a higher Simpson index. Changes in the composition of the oral microbiota between the PreW and PostW groups were observed in the present study. At the phylum level, the relative abundance of Firmicutes and Myxococcota was significantly greater in the PostW than in the PreW group. At the genus level, the Gemella, unclassified_o__Lactobacillales, and Lactobacillus were increased in the postweaning donkeys. The donkeys’ oral microbial functions were predicted using PICRUSt, and the functions related to carbohydrate metabolic pathways were significantly enriched in the oral microbiome in the PostW donkeys. In summary, the current study provides a deeper insight into the oral microbiota changes during the weaning period, and the influence of weaning together with the documented changes in diversity and composition will help us to obtain a better understanding of their long-term health impact within the oral cavities of donkey foals. However, a major limitation of the present study was that the samples were obtained from different animals in the PreW and PostW groups, which may have resulted in variability among the different individuals. Further investigation is needed to monitor the shift in oral microbes in the same individuals during the weaning period. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Routine Healthcare and Management of the Donkey)
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14 pages, 10022 KiB  
Article
Comparative Analysis of Bacterial Diversity between the Liquid Phase and Adherent Fraction within the Donkey Caeco-Colic Ecosystem
by Zhenwei Zhang, Bingjian Huang, Xiaoyuan Shi, Tianqi Wang, Yonghui Wang, Mingxia Zhu and Changfa Wang
Animals 2022, 12(9), 1116; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12091116 - 26 Apr 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2050
Abstract
Donkey hindgut is an enlarged fermentative chamber that harbors a highly complex and extremely abundant community of anaerobic bacteria. It can be divided into two different ecological sites: liquid (Lq) phase and adherent fraction (Ad) colonized by bacteria. However, the Ad bacteria have [...] Read more.
Donkey hindgut is an enlarged fermentative chamber that harbors a highly complex and extremely abundant community of anaerobic bacteria. It can be divided into two different ecological sites: liquid (Lq) phase and adherent fraction (Ad) colonized by bacteria. However, the Ad bacteria have not previously been specifically collected or directly compared with the Lq bacteria. In the present study, the digesta collected from the caecum, ventral colon and dorsal colon of nine Dezhou donkeys was separated into Lq and Ad fractions. The bacterial community structure was comparatively determined using 16S rRNA gene sequences by Illumina MiSeq. The Ad bacteria had a higher bacterial diversity than Lq bacteria due to the higher Chao and ACE index (p < 0.05). The predominant bacteria at the phylum level were Firmicutes (55.4~74.3%) and Bacteroidota (13.7~32.2%) for both the Lq and Ad fraction. The relative abundance of Bacteroidota, Spirochaetota, Fibrobacterota and Patescibacteria in the Ad fraction was greater than Lq (p < 0.05), suggesting that bacteria associated with feed particles were mainly responsible for plant fiber degradation. At the genus level, the abundance of Lactobacillus in Lq was greater than that in the Ad fraction (p < 0.05), indicating that the bacteria in the Lq fraction were better at hydrolyzing readily fermentable carbohydrates. PICRUSt showed that the activities of enzymes related to fiber degradation in the Ad fraction were also greater than Lq. In addition, the hindgut region also had a significant effect on the bacterial community composition. The relative abundance of Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group, Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1, Christensenellaceae_R-7_group and norank_Bacteroidales_BS11_gut_group was increased (p < 0.05) along the donkey hindgut. In summary, the present study provides evidence that bacteria adherent to plant biomass were different to those in the liquid phase within the donkey caeco-colic digesta, and bacteria associated with feed particles may mainly be responsible for plant fiber degradation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Routine Healthcare and Management of the Donkey)
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12 pages, 1269 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of Stress Accompanying Immunocontraceptive Vaccination in Donkeys
by Erik W. Peterson, Lorenzo G. T. M. Segabinazzi, Robert O. Gilbert, Don R. Bergfelt and Hilari M. French
Animals 2022, 12(4), 457; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12040457 - 13 Feb 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2058
Abstract
The overpopulation of donkeys is recognized as a problem in many parts of the world. The main concerns with uncontrolled donkey populations are habitat degradation and competition for feed resources between donkeys and other species. One of the most effective and humane solutions [...] Read more.
The overpopulation of donkeys is recognized as a problem in many parts of the world. The main concerns with uncontrolled donkey populations are habitat degradation and competition for feed resources between donkeys and other species. One of the most effective and humane solutions is the use of immunocontraception. Therefore, this study sought to evaluate the stress imposed by the use of two formulations of a zona pellucida (ZP) vaccine, a recombinant (reZP) and a native porcine (pZP) vaccine, both formulated with a Freund’s adjuvant. The stress was objectively measured using fecal cortisol concentrations and physical examination parameters at fixed points before and after vaccination. We hypothesized that fewer changes in physical exam parameters and lower fecal cortisol concentrations would be stimulated in jennies treated with the reZP vaccine due to the selection of specific proteins. Twenty-five reproductively sound jennies were randomly assigned to reZP (n = 9), pZP (n = 8) or control (n = 8) groups. The vaccines were administered at five-week intervals. Physical exam parameters and body wall thickness of injection sites were recorded for each jenny for four days post-injections. Fecal samples were obtained every other day from day 0 (first vaccination) through day 6 and on days 35 to 41 after booster. Injection site reactions were common in all groups with the reZP and pZP groups being overrepresented. Lameness was observed in the pZP and reZP groups that were affected by injection site reactions and open abscesses. The present study showed an increase in fecal cortisol concentrations within 4 days after the first vaccination with ZP vaccines and, thereafter, a decrease in cortisol 35 days later after the second vaccination, especially in donkeys with open abscesses. Our results suggest that acute stress (increased cortisol) was induced after the first vaccination, and chronic stress (decreased cortisol) occurred thereafter in association with open abscesses. In conclusion, reZP and pZP formulated with Freund’s adjuvant induced local inflammatory reactions with a differential degree of acute and chronic stress in donkeys. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Routine Healthcare and Management of the Donkey)
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14 pages, 13157 KiB  
Article
The Fibrolytic Enzyme Profiles and the Composition of Fungal Communities in Donkey Cecum-Colon Ecosystem
by Zhenwei Zhang, Yonghui Wang, Bingjian Huang, Mingxia Zhu and Changfa Wang
Animals 2022, 12(4), 412; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12040412 - 9 Feb 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2000
Abstract
The fibrolytic enzymes and the hindgut fungi in donkey cecum-colon ecosystem play an important role in dietary fiber digestion. A better understanding of the fibrolytic enzyme profiles and the fungal community along donkey caecum and colon is key for optimizing hindgut function. In [...] Read more.
The fibrolytic enzymes and the hindgut fungi in donkey cecum-colon ecosystem play an important role in dietary fiber digestion. A better understanding of the fibrolytic enzyme profiles and the fungal community along donkey caecum and colon is key for optimizing hindgut function. In the present study, the fibrolytic enzyme activities within donkey caecum and colon were firstly measured by spectrophotometry. Activities of carboxymethyl cellulase, avicelase, xylanase, and acetyl esterase were greater in donkey dorsal colon than in caecum, indicating that the colon microorganisms may be more efficient in producing fibrolytic enzymes compared to caecum microbes. The fungal community composition along donkey hindgut was determined by sequencing ITS region using Illumina MiSeq. Three fungal phyla were identified by sequence comparison: Ascomycota (66.8%–74.4%), Basidiomycota (21.6%–30.9%), and Neocallimastigomycota (0.9%–3.3%). The Aspergillus, Wallemia, Phanerochaete, Fusarium, and Penicillium were detected as the dominant genera, but their metabolic and functional significance in donkey cecum-colon ecosystem need further investigation. In terms of the anaerobic fungi Neocallimastigomycota, its abundance was greater in donkey colon than in caecum (p < 0.05), indicating that the donkey hindgut region was associated with differences in fungal community composition. Moreover, the relative abundance of enzymes related to plant cell wall degradation were predicted by PICRUSt, and they were also lower in caecum than in colon. The present study provided new information about fibrolytic enzyme profiles and fungal composition in donkey hindgut ecosystem. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Routine Healthcare and Management of the Donkey)
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15 pages, 39032 KiB  
Article
Characteristics of the Donkey’s Dorsal Profile in Relation to Its Functional Body Condition Assessment
by Małgorzata Maśko, Małgorzata Wierzbicka, Łukasz Zdrojkowski, Tomasz Jasiński, Bartosz Pawliński and Małgorzata Domino
Animals 2021, 11(11), 3095; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11113095 - 29 Oct 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 7551
Abstract
As the breeding of donkeys has increased due to different types of use, welfare evaluation importance increases. This equid’s welfare state has been described using body condition indicators and the geometric morphometrics method. However, the dorsal profile has not yet been assessed in [...] Read more.
As the breeding of donkeys has increased due to different types of use, welfare evaluation importance increases. This equid’s welfare state has been described using body condition indicators and the geometric morphometrics method. However, the dorsal profile has not yet been assessed in donkeys. In this study, the body condition score (BCS), fatty neck score (FNS), dental condition score (DCS), sex, and breed were used as criteria of dorsal profile deformations. Photographs of 40 donkeys were analyzed using geometric morphometrics. Within the entire set of dorsal profiles, the variance of the first three principal components (PCs) was PC1 = 37.41%, PC2 = 23.43%, and PC3 = 13.34%. The dorsal profiles displayed deformation as an effect of FNS and BCS on size (FNS p = 0.012; BCS p = 0.024) and shape (FNS p < 0.0001; BCS p < 0.0001), rather than as an effect of DCS (p < 0.0001), sex (p = 0.0264), and breed (p < 0.0001) only on shape. The highest distances among the categories (Mahalanobis distances: MD ≥ 13.26; Procrustes distances: PD ≥ 0.044) were noted for FNS. The lowest distances were noted between jennets and males (MD = 4.58; PD = 0.012) and between BCS 1 and BCS 2 (MD = 4.70; PD = 0.018). Donkeys’ body condition affects their dorsal profile and both FNS and BCS measurements should be considered when a donkey’s dorsal profile is investigated. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Routine Healthcare and Management of the Donkey)
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