Common helminth infections of donkeys and their control in temperate regions

Roundworms and flatworms that affect donkeys can cause disease. All common helminth parasites that affect horses also infect donkeys, so animals that co‐graze can act as a source of infection for either species. Of the gastrointestinal nematodes, those belonging to the cyathostomin (small strongyle) group are the most problematic in UK donkeys. Most grazing animals are exposed to these parasites and some animals will be infected all of their lives. Control is threatened by anthelmintic resistance: resistance to all 3 available anthelmintic classes has now been recorded in UK donkeys. The lungworm, Dictyocaulus arnfieldi, is also problematical, particularly when donkeys co‐graze with horses. Mature horses are not permissive hosts to the full life cycle of this parasite, but develop clinical signs on infection. In contrast, donkeys are permissive hosts without displaying overt clinical signs and act as a source of infection to co‐grazing horses. Donkeys are also susceptible to the fluke, Fasciola hepatica. This flatworm can be transmitted, via snails and the environment, from ruminants. As with cyathostomins, anthelmintic resistance is increasing in fluke populations in the UK. A number of the anthelmintic products available for horses do not have a licence for use in donkeys, and this complicates the design of parasite control programmes. As no new equine anthelmintic classes appear to be near market, it is important that the efficacy of currently effective drugs is maintained. It is important that strategies are used that attempt to preserve anthelmintic efficacy. These strategies should be based on the concept that the proportion of worms in a population not exposed to anthelmintic at each treatment act as a source of ‘refugia’. The latter is an important factor in the rate at which resistance develops. Thus, it is imperative that parasite control programmes take into account the need to balance therapy to control helminth‐associated disease with the requirement to preserve anthelmintic effectiveness.     

Anaesthesia and analgesia of the donkey and the mule

The number of donkeys and mules throughout the world is stable, and awareness of their use and concern for welfare, pain recognition and treatment are receiving increasing veterinary interest. Therefore, accurate information about anaesthesia and analgesia in donkeys and mules is important to ever more equine practitioners. Since donkeys are physiologically and pharmacologically different from horses, knowledge on species specific aspects of anaesthesia and analgesia are very important. Mules combine elements from both donkey and horse backgrounds, leading to great diversity in size, temperament and body type. Physiologically, they seem to resemble horses more than donkeys. This review highlights the current knowledge on various anaesthetic and analgesic approaches in donkeys and mules. There is still much information that is not available about donkeys; in many circumstances, the clinician must use available equine information to treat the patient, while monitoring carefully to observe for differences in response to therapy compared to the horse.     

驴内脏组织中脂肪沉积相关基因的差异表达

脂肪沉积相关基因在动物内脏中的异常表达与某些疾病相关。应用RT-qPCR技术分别检测2岁~3岁健康公、母新疆驴内脏器官心、脾、肾、肝、小肠、大肠和肺中脂肪沉积相关基因H-FABP、PLIN1、LPL、HSL、PPARγ和FASN的表达差异。结果显示,新疆驴内脏器官中脂肪沉积相关基因的表达,性别对基因的差异表达影响较小;在各组织间,H-FABP基因在心脏、PLIN1基因在肝脏组织中的表达都显著的高于其他组织;LPL、HSL基因在心脏、肾脏的表达量较高;PPARγ基因在脾、肺中表达最高,而FASN基因在心、脾中表达最低。研究结果可为新疆驴内脏器官有关疾病的监测与预防提供一定的参考。     

Is sperm cryopreservation in absence of permeable cryoprotectants suitable for subfertile donkeys?

Sperm from fertile donkeys have been successfully frozen in absence of permeable cryoprotectants. The aim of this study was to determine whether this cryopreservation method is suitable for subfertile donkeys in comparison to conventional sperm freezing with glycerol. Ejaculates were collected from four Andalusian Donkeys: three fertile and one subfertile. Semen was frozen with an extender containing glycerol (GLY), or adding instead sucrose 0.25 molar and 1% bovine serum albumin (SUC) as non‐permeable cryoprotectants. After thawing, samples were assessed for total (TM, %) and progressive (PM, %) sperm motility by CASA, plasma membrane integrity (PMI, %) by epifluorescence microscopy and DNA integrity (DFI, %) by SCSA. Results (mean ± SD) were compared between extenders in fertile and subfertile donkeys using the Student's t test. No differences between GLY and SUC treatments were found in the fertile group for the sperm parameters assessed. In subfertile donkey ejaculates, GLY resulted in significantly higher values than SUC for TM (25.5 ± 3.1 vs. 19.6 ± 1.9) and PM (13.3 ± 5.1 vs. 4.0 ± 1.2), respectively. In conclusion, considering all the sperm parameters assessed, sperm freezing in absence of permeable cryoprotectants may not be still an option for cryopreservation of subfertile donkey sperm.     

驴乳房炎大肠杆菌的分离鉴定及生物学特性研究

为了查明导致新疆某规模化奶驴场乳房炎的主要病原菌及其生物学特性,试验采用常规微生物学方法对病原菌进行分离,采用生化鉴定管和16S rRNA的PCR扩增方法对病原菌进行鉴定,采用K-B药敏纸片法测定其耐药性,D_{600 nm}值绘制细菌生长曲线,最后分析同源性并构建系统进化树。结果显示,分离株为革兰氏阴性短杆菌,能在麦康凯培养基上长出粉红色菌落,在伊红－美兰培养基上长出有金属光泽的菌落;生化鉴定分离株的葡磷胨水、赖氨酸、鸟氨酸、棉子糖、山梨醇、侧金盏花醇、木胶糖试验均呈阳性,而苯丙氨酸和硫化氢试验均为阴性;PCR扩增后测序得到205 bp的1号菌株和203 bp的2号菌株,其特性符合大肠杆菌的特性;药敏结果表明,分离株对链霉素和氯霉素高度敏感,对青霉素、阿莫西林和庆大霉素耐药;生长曲线表明,分离株在2~16 h时为高度繁殖期,16~32 h处于稳定期,32 h以后开始进入衰退期;1号菌株与2号菌株同源性高达99%,1号菌株与大肠杆菌11J和RCB800的同源性最高（100%）;2号菌株与大肠杆菌675SK2和DTU-1的同源性最高（100%）;由系统进化树分析可知,1号菌株与大肠杆菌11J和RCB800处于同一个小分支,2号菌株与大肠杆菌675SK2和DTU-1处于同一个小分支。因此,导致本次驴乳房炎的病原菌为大肠杆菌,本研究结果为进一步系统研究导致驴乳房炎大肠杆菌的致病机制提供参考。     

Conjunctival fungal flora in healthy donkeys

OBJECTIVE: To identify and quantify ocular fungi from healthy donkeys living in the center of Italy. ANIMALS STUDIED: One hundred and two Amiata donkeys were examined. PROCEDURES: Conjunctival swabs from both eyes were seeded onto Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA) and malt extract agar (MEA), and incubated at 25 degrees C over a 10-day period. Filamentous fungi identification was achieved to the genus level; yeast colonies were identified for macro-micromorphologic and physiological characteristics. RESULTS: Eighty-one donkeys out of 102 (79.4%) were positive for fungi; 47/102 (46.1%) had positive cultures from both eyes. Most frequently recovered fungal genera were Aspergillus spp., Penicillium spp., Cladosporium spp., Acremonium spp. Different fungal genera and/or species were recovered from the same donkey in 43 cases (42.1%). Yeasts were isolated from five subjects; the yeasts were never associated with molds. The number of colony forming units (CFU) ranged from 1 to 100. CONCLUSIONS: Aspergillus was the most commonly isolated fungal genus (33%). This result agrees with the findings of similar surveys carried out in horses. There was a remarkable presence of fungi and perfect forms. These observations may be explained by the optimal conditions for presence and development of fungi in the conjunctival fornix microenvironment in Amiata donkeys.     

新疆驴冷冻精液的研究

试验旨在探究新疆驴冷冻精液的最佳稀释保护液与处理方法。以假阴道采集新疆驴精液,并用5种不同稀释保护液稀释冷冻后,选取其中较为理想的稀释液作为对照组,再通过分别添加4%、5%、6%、8%甘油处理试验,最后再选用添加甘油后冷冻效果最优的稀释液为对照来进行离心浓缩试验。结果表明：①5号稀释液冷冻—解冻精液后,其活力、顶体完整率要显著高于其他4种稀释液（P<0.05）;②以5号稀释液为对照组,添加6%甘油(7号稀释液)冷冻后,精子的活力、顶体完整率要显著高于添加4%、5%、8%甘油组（P<0.05）;③以7号稀释液为对照组,通过离心浓缩,精液在冷冻后其活力和精子顶体完整率都显著提高（P<0.05）。结果提示,将驴精液用6%葡萄糖、2%乳糖、6%甘油为主的稀释液稀释,并经500 r/min离心浓缩10 min处理后,其冷冻效果最好。     

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma in a donkey. Use of laparoscopy to aid the diagnosis

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma was diagnosed in a 15‐year‐old donkey that presented with signs of chronic laminitis, weight loss and chronic colic. An intra‐abdominal mass was identified by exploratory laparoscopy, and this was subsequently confirmed to be a pancreatic adenocarcinoma at post mortem examination. Unlike most previously reported cases of pancreatic disease in equids, this donkey had no clinicopathological evidence of an associated hepatopathy.     

驴皮成纤维细胞的体外培养研究

试验旨在比较不同培养方法对驴皮成纤维细胞培养的效果,以便建立其体外高效快速的培养体系。采集6~7岁健康的新疆驴真皮组织,分别用组织块贴壁法和双酶消化法对驴皮成纤维细胞进行原代培养,并检测分析细胞的生长特点、生长速度、细胞周期与支原体污染等指标。结果显示,双酶消化法（0.25%胰酶处理1 h,再用0.5%胶原蛋白酶Ⅰ处理6 h）培养驴皮组织3 d后,成纤维细胞进入了对数增殖期,而组织块贴壁法则需要15 d;细胞周期经流式分析发现,处于G0/G1期与S+G2+M期的细胞均约为50%,其余5.17%细胞处于凋亡期,表明大多细胞处于分裂增殖的活跃期,细胞具有很强的活力;试验中培养的细胞均无支原体污染。综上,应用双酶消化法可快速、高效地建立驴皮成纤维细胞体外培养体系。     

Pack wounds of donkeys and mules in the Northern High Atlas and lowlands of Morocco

Reasons for performing study: Wounds are one of the primary welfare concerns of working equids and are often related to harness or load‐bearing packs. Objectives: To identify and quantify factors associated with the presence of pack wounds in donkeys and mules working in the wood trade in the Midelt (Northern High Atlas) region of Morocco, and to compare wounds of these donkeys and mules to those working in other trades. Methods: The study population comprised equids working in the Midelt region involved in the wood trade. Comparison populations were comprised of equids working in other trades, in the same region and in Khemmiset region (lowlands of Central Morocco). Wounds were numbered and scored according to their severity. Questionnaires were used to gather data from owners, and objective data regarding the animal, berdaa (back‐pack) and load were collected. Data were analysed using multilevel uniand multivariable regression models to allow for clustering of wound sites within an equid. Results: Analysis showed an overall pack wound prevalence of 54% (n = 80/147). The most common site was the withers. Equids working in the wood trade were at increased risk of suffering pack wounds. Equids in the lowland study population were at increased risk of developing pack wounds, and donkeys were at increased risk of suffering pack wounds compared to mules both overall and within the wood trade. Other factors affecting the prevalence of wounds included the cleanliness of the berdaa and the frequency and distances of work imposed on the equid. Conclusion: Pack wounds in donkeys and mules are common in the 2 study regions of Morocco and appear to be associated with work factors including the trade the equids work in, the frequency and distances of work imposed and cleanliness of the pack. Donkeys are more susceptible than mules to developing pack wounds. Potential relevance: These results allow recommendations to be made to owners of equids that may decrease the prevalence of wounds and, therefore, improve welfare and working capability of these equids. Research is required to identify reasons for regional difference in prevalence of pack wounds in equids not working in the wood trade.