Abstract
The examination of 216 donkeys presented for treatment at the Donkey Sanctuary–World Horse Welfare–Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico mobile clinics revealed a number of health and welfare problems. A general overview of the donkeys’ health was made and showed that the median body condition score (BCS) in this population was 2.5. Underweight animals only accounted for 26% of the population. Females, 0–5-year-olds and >21-year-olds, were more likely to be underweight. When analysed, there was no correlation between faecal worm egg count (FEC) and BCS. The prevalence of strongyle infection as assessed by FEC was shown to be 80% with a median FEC of 600 eggs per gramme. Donkeys were assessed for body lesions and showed a high prevalence (71%), particularly in the facial region (54%). Analysis showed that mature animals (6–15 years old) were at increased risk of body lesions compared to older animals (16+ years old) as were donkeys with dental disease and those in particular villages. Risk factor analysis for lesions of the face showed that stallions and geldings are at increased risk as were donkeys wearing halters made from nylon rope. This study has identified areas for further investigation and potential areas where targeted interventions may be made to improve the health and welfare of working donkeys in Mexico.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Burn, C.C., Pritchard, J.C., Farajat, M., Twaissi, A.A. and Whay, H.R., 2008. Risk factors for strap-related lesions in working donkeys at the world heritage site of Petra in Jordan. The Veterinary Journal, 178, 263–71
Carretero-Roque L., Colunga B., Smith D.G., González-Ronquillo M., Solis-Mendez A. and Castelán-Ortega O., 2005. Digestible energy requirements of Mexican donkeys fed oat straw and maize stover. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 37 Supp 1, 123–142
CIA World Fact Book (2009). Available from CIA site, https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mx.html (Accessed 21st September 2009)
Crane, M., Khallaayoune, K., Christley, R., Scantlebury, C. and Faoud, M., 2008. The effect of an anthelmintic programme for working equids in Morocco: a comparison of treated and placebo controlled populations. In: Proceedings of the 9th International Equine Colic Research Symposium (Liverpool, UK), 171–172
de Aluja, A.S., 1998. The welfare of working equids in Mexico. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 59 , 19–29
de Aluja A. S. and Lopez F., 1991. Donkeys in Mexico. In: Fielding D. and Pearson R. A. (eds), Donkeys, Mules and Horses in Tropical Agricultural Development (CTVM: Edinburgh), 1–7.
Du Toit, N., Burden, F.A. and Dixon, P.M., 2008. Clinical dental findings in 203 working donkeys in Mexico. The Veterinary Journal, doi:10.1016/j.tvjl.2008.09.013 (in press)
Fernando-Martinez, J.A., Herrera-Leon, A., de Aluja, A.S., Velazquez-Ramirez, J.L. and Hernandez-Gil, M., 2006. Prevalence of dental disorders in rural working equines of Mexico. In: R.A. Pearson, C.J. Muir and M. Farrow (eds), The Future for Working Equines. The Fifth International Colloquium on Working Equines, (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia), 192–196
Gebreab, F. and Fanta, A., 2006. Saddle harness development and trial. In: R.A. Pearson, C.J. Muir and M. Farrow (eds), The Future for Working Equines. The Fifth International Colloquium on Working Equines, (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia), 41–47
Getachew, M., Feseha, G., Trawford, A. and Reid, S.W., 2008. A survey of seasonal patterns in strongyle faecal worm egg counts of working equids of the central midlands and lowlands, Ethiopia. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 8, 637–42
Kaufmann, J. and Pfister, K., 1990. The seasonal epidemiology of gastro-intestinal nematodes in N’Dama cattle in the Gambia. Veterinary Parasitology, 37 , 45–54
Krecek, R.C. and Guthrie, A.J., 1999. Alternative approaches to control of cyathostomes: an African perspective. Veterinary Parasitology, 85, 151–162
Matthee, S., Krecek, R.C., Milne, S.A., Boshoff, M. and Guthrie, A.J., 2002. Impact of management interventions on helminth levels, and body and blood measurements in working donkeys in South Africa. Veterinary Parasitology, 107, 103–113
Nawaz, S., Shah, Z., Gondal, J.I., Habib, M. and Shaw, A., 2006. The influence of cart and bits characteristics on the presence, size and severity of lip lesions in draught equines in Mardan/Gujranwala—Pakistan. In: R.A. Pearson, C.J. Muir and M. Farrow (eds), The Future for Working Equines. The Fifth International Colloquium on Working Equines (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia), 29–36
Pritchard, J.C., Lindberg, A.C., Main, D.C. and Whay, H.R., 2005. Assessment of the welfare of working horses, mules and donkeys, using health and behaviour parameters. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 69, 265–283
Soulsby, L., Trawford, A.F., Matthews, J.B., de Aluja, A.S., Dorchies, P., Gebreab, F., Pangui, L.J. and Krecek, R.C., 2004. Donkey: hero or villain of the parasite world? Past, present and future. Veterinary Parasitology, 125, 43–58
Starkey, P. and Starkey, M., 2000. Regional and world trends in donkey populations. In: P. Starkey and D. Fielding (eds), Donkeys, people and development. A resource book of the Animal Traction Network for Eastern and Southern Africa (ATNESA), (ACP-EU Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA), Wageningen, The Netherlands), 10–21
Svendsen, E. D., 1997. Donkeys abroad. In: E.D. Svendsen (ed), The Professional Handbook of the Donkey. 3rd edition. (London: Whittet Books Ltd), 166–182
Valdez-Cruz, M.P., Hernandez-Gil, M., Galindo-Rodriguez, L. and Alonso-Diaz, M.A., 2006. Gastrointestinal parasite burden, body condition and haematological values in equines in the humid tropical areas of Mexico. In: R.A. Pearson, C.J. Muir and M. Farrow (eds), The Future for Working Equines. The Fifth International Colloquium on Working Equines, (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia), 62–72
Yoseph, S., Smith, D.G., Mengistu, A., Teklu, F., Firew, T. and Betere, Y., 2005. Seasonal variation in the parasite burden and body condition of working donkeys in East Shewa and West Shewa regions of Ethiopia. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 37, 35–45
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank The Donkey Sanctuary for funding this research and all of the staff of the DS–WHW–UNAM project. Thanks also to Dr. Getachew Mulugeta for his informative comments on the manuscript. We would also like to thank all the donkey owners that allowed their animals to be examined and gave their time willingly.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Burden, F.A., Du Toit, N., Hernandez-Gil, M. et al. Selected health and management issues facing working donkeys presented for veterinary treatment in rural Mexico: some possible risk factors and potential intervention strategies. Trop Anim Health Prod 42, 597–605 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-009-9462-0
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-009-9462-0