Donkey Internal Medicine—Part II: Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Neurologic, Urinary, Ophthalmic, Dermatology, and Musculoskeletal Disorders

Abstract

a b s t r a c tCardiovascular diseases are scarcely reported in donkeys, probably linked to their limited athletic attitude and low frequency of poor performance-related examinations. Reports on treatments for cardiovascular pathologies are anecdotal in donkeys. Respiratory tract anatomy shows important differences between horses and donkeys. Donkeys and mules can act as reservoirs spreading many viral, bacterial, and parasitic infectious respiratory diseases. Mosquito and tick-borne encephalitis have been reported in these species in the later years, and even donkeys are being used as sentinels in some areas to detect these emerging diseases. Management and treatment of lithiases can be transferable from horses; however, the same assumption must still be demonstrated for acute and chronic renal diseases. Ocular pathologies are similar to horses, with corneal ulcers frequently observed. Lameness is a common problem in donkeys, with laminitis as the most reported cause followed by pedal abscess.

A Pilot Serosurvey for Selected Pathogens in Feral Donkeys (Equus asinus)

“…EIV infection in donkeys can cause pyrexia, cough, nasal discharge, and lethargy, similar to the signs seen in infected horses [ 24 ]. However, donkeys appear to be more susceptible than horses to infection with EIV and to developing more severe clinical disease, including secondary bronchopneumonia [ 27 , 28 ]. In 1963, an H3N8 strain of influenza was identified as the cause of a major epidemic in equines in the state of Florida, and in the following years, it spread throughout the USA and Europe [ 29 ].…”

Viral Diseases that Affect Donkeys and Mules

“…EHV-1 and EHV-4 are clinically, economically, and epidemiologically the most relevant pathogens within this family, causing problems in the respiratory tract of horses worldwide [97]. Both have been associated with abortion and respiratory diseases in donkeys [98]. In addition, EHV-1 is also associated with neurological diseases in donkeys [11,99,100].…”

“…In donkeys and mules, an infection with a gammaherpesviruses similar to Asinine herpesvirus type 5 (AHV-5), isolated from a pharynx swab of a donkey with neurological disease in Ontario, Canada have been reported [112]. Beyond this, AHV type 4 and 5 are also considered potential causes of pulmonary fibrosis, which is a common disease in elderly donkeys [98]. AHV-5 has also been detected in donkeys with interstitial pneumonia, similar to AHV-4 [113].…”

“…There are no specific therapeutic or biosafety procedures for AHVs. The measures that must be taken for donkeys infected with some herpesviruses must follow the protocols developed for the treatment of EHV in horses [98]. However, the unique physiology of donkeys must not be ignored.…”

Der festliegende Esel – Wie Sie subtile Symptome richtig interpretieren

“…Eine Lungenfibrose führt im Normalfall nicht zum Festliegen, kann aber im weit fortgeschrittenen Stadium, bei sehr heißen Temperaturen und hoher Kreislaufbelastung dazu führen. Die Lungenfibrose ist irreversibel, eine medika-mentöse Therapie mit Steroiden, Antifibrotika, wie Pentoxifyllin und Bronchodilatatoren, kann die Symptome lindern [5].…”