Haematological and biochemical findings in pregnant, postfoaling and lactating jennies

The aims of this study were to: 1) verify if significant changes occur in hematological and biochemical parameters in jennies during the last two months of pregnancy and the first two months of lactation, and 2) determine any differences with equine species. Materials and methods. Hematological and biochemical parameters were evaluated in jennies every 15 days during late pregnancy, parturition, and early lactation. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, ANOVA for repeated measurements and Tukey’s multiple comparison test as post hoc were applied. The significance level was set at p<0.05. Results. Statistical analysis showed differences related to time for RBC and HCT, WBC, PLT, total proteins (TP), blood urea, triglycerides and total cholesterol concentrations, AST, GGT, CK activities, sodium (Na) and potassium (K). Discussion and conclusions. RBC and HCT were higher in late pregnancy than at foaling and during lactation. The relative anaemia might be due to increased water ingestion due to fluid losses. The WBC count was higher at foaling than during late pregnancy and lactation. This could be related to the release of cortisol and catecholamine during delivery. The PLT trend showed lower values from delivery to the first two months of lactation compared to late gestation. Blood urea increased near parturition, and then remained constant during delivery and lactation, which might be due to the high-energy demand at the beginning of lactation. Triglycerides and total cholesterol showed a decrease from delivery through the lactation period. Thus jennies seem to have a similar metabolism of fats to ponies and draft horse mares, characterized by a greater fat content and mobilization than light breed horses. AST activity decreased at parturition and early lactation, probably due to a predominance of anabolic over catabolic processes during pregnancy. GGT activity was lower at delivery and during lactation than at late gestation. This could be due to a physiological load on the liver in the perinatal period. GGT activity was always higher than in mares, but within the normal range for adult donkeys. CK decreased near delivery, then was constant from parturition through the first two months of lactation. Na decreased during lactation, probably due to an increased renal retention mediated by aldosterone release during pregnancy. K showed the same trend as Na, and concentrations are in line with the species. The higher K during pregnancy may be due to reabsorption by the gut. TP decreased more during the post-partum period and lactation than in the gestational period

Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cytological findings in healthy Amiata donkeys

Background: The approach to respiratory diseases in donkeys is similar to that for horses; nevertheless, Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and tracheal wash cytology in this species have been described only a few times in the literature. Aim: To describe BALF cytological findings in a cohort of 24 healthy Amiata donkeys. Methods: Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was carried out via standing sedation with a large animal where the BAL catheter passed blindly through the nasal passage into the trachea. Results: The total nucleated cell count of the BALF was found similar to that already described in healthy horses and donkeys. No differences in the differential count were observed according to age and sex. A decreased macrophage percentage and an increased eosinophil percentage were observed in our donkey population when compared to the existing reference range for horses. Conclusion: The reference intervals for BAL cytology in donkeys may be significantly different for those referred for horses

Heart rate variability in newborn foals and its association with illness : a pilot study

We would like to thank Dr. Paola Marmorini and the staff of the breeding farm La Piaggia for allowing the healthy foals to be recorded.This study aimed to investigate differences in heart rate variability (HRV) between healthy and sick neonatal foals with a variety of diagnosis and to verify whether some HRV parameters could be associated with sepsis and/or survival. Twenty-one foals were included in the study: nine were healthy and 12 were sick. Retrospectively, sick foals were divided into sub-groups (non-septic vs. septic and non-survivor vs. survivor) for statistical analysis. Heart rate was recorded daily for 20 min and a 5-min period was used for heart rate variability analysis. Data on HRV variables were analysed using a linear model. Least-square means with their standard errors were reported, and treatment effects were declared significant at p <.05. To isolate the group that differed from the others, Tukey's test was used as a multiple comparison procedure. Pearson's correlations between variables were calculated, to estimate their relationship. Standard Deviation of the RR intervals and Standard Deviation 2 by the Poincaré plot was significantly lower in sick foals compared with healthy subjects, but there were no differences between survivors and non-survivors. Healthy foals presented a significantly lower Sample Entropy and heart rate compared with sick foals. HRV analysis is a non-invasive, rapid, and economical measurement tool that can be added to other parameters to improve the accuracy of predicting in-hospital mortality in foals. Further studies should be conducted with a larger sample of foals to confirm these findings and to evaluate the clinical usefulness of HRV analysis during neonatal diseases.Highlights This study investigated differences in heart rate variability (HRV) between sick and healthy neonatal foals Standard Deviation of the RR intervals was significantly lower in sick compared with healthy foals, but there were no differences between survivors and non-survivors. HRV analysis is a non-invasive, rapid, and economical tool that can be added to other parameters to improve the accuracy of predicting mortality in foals

Evaluation of Ultrasound Measurement of Subcutaneous Fat Thickness in Dairy Jennies during the Periparturient Period

The body condition score (BCS) represents a practical but subjective method for assessing body fat reserves. Real time ultrasonography (RTU) has been proposed as an accurate method to objectively measure subcutaneous fat (SF) thickness and predict body fat reserves in cows, horses and donkeys. The aim of the present study was to describe RTU measures of SF thickness during periparturient period in jennies. The present prospective cohort study evaluated six dairy jennies. SF RTU were performed at 15 and 7 days before the presumptive delivery, and 2, 15 and 30 days after delivery. A portable ultrasound machine and multifrequency linear transducer (5–7.5 MHz) was used. RTU images were obtained in six sites (S1–S6). Results at each time point were reported as mean ± standard deviation and compared through time. A total of 180 images were evaluated. RTU technique was easy to perform and well tolerated. No statistically significant differences were found of each site during time, except for S2 and S6a: S2 at T2 and S6a at T1 were significatively different to values obtained at T5. The RTU mean values were above those reported by others, suggesting major physio-logical challenges related to energy balance and fat mobilization in pregnant jennies bred for milking production. BCS and sites through observational time have shown a good and reliable association. Our study could give preliminary indications on fat reserves in different body locations evaluated thanks to RTU and it show no significative variation of SF thickness, in pregnant and lactating jennies

Evaluation of different methods to estimate the transfer of immunity in donkey foals fed with colostrum of good IgG quality: A preliminary study

The aims of the present study were to evaluate the correlation between IgG Serum Radial Immunodiffusion (SRID), Electrophoresis Gamma Globulins (EGG), Electrophoresis Total Protein (ETP) and the serum total protein (TP) analyzed by refractometry and by a dry chemistry analyzer (Biuret) and to estimate serum IgG concentrations using serum TP. A total of 36 samples collected at four different times (birth, 6, 12, 24 hours after birth) from nine Amiata donkey foals were evaluated with SRID, EGG, ETP, serum TP Biuret and refractometry. SRID IgG concentration increased significantly over time until T12. Serum TP analyzed with refractometry, electrophoresis and Biuret showed a statistically significant difference between T0 and T6 vs T12 and T24. A good or strong correlation was found between different tests performed. Equations to quantify serum IgG were created and can be used for estimating the donkey foals’ serum IgG in the first day of life. Serum TP refractometry showed a high correlation with SRID IgG (0.91) which may be a particularly useful and economic instrument to estimate the transfer of immunity in donkey foals during the first day of life

Evaluation of jennies' colostrum: IgG concentrations and absorption in the donkey foals. A preliminary study

Immunoglobulin type G (IgG) concentration both in jennies' colostrum and in serum of donkey foals are mostly unknown in the first 24 h after delivery. The aims of the present study were to evaluate the IgG concentrations of colostrum during the first 24 h of lactation of Amiata jennies, the absorption of colostrum and the weekly body weight gain of the donkey foals. IgG concentrations were assessed in the jennies' colostrum and in the serum of donkey foals. Colostrum was collected in 9 jennies ready after delivery, and at 6, 12, 24 h after foaling from both halves. Serum was collected at the same sampling times from 9 donkey foals. Donkey foals were weighted at birth and then weekly until the 28th days of life. Temporal changes of IgG concentrations in dam's colostrum and in donkey foal serum were analyzed by a linear regression model and a general linear model, respectively. Results showed that colostrum IgG concentration were similar between the left and the right half. Colostrum IgG concentrations decreased continuously throughout the time in all jennies by 0.0244 Log10 mg/mL per hour. Serum IgG concentrations in donkey foals at birth was significantly lower compared to other times. No correlation was found between the colostrum IgG concentrations and the average weekly body weight gain of the donkey foal. The pattern of colostrum IgG levels in jennies and serum IgG concentration in donkey foals seem to be similar to what reported for equine. However, the donkey foals seem to be less agammaglobulinemic at birth compared to the horse foal. The pattern and both serum and colostrum concentrations evaluated in the Amiata donkeys were slightly different from results reported in other donkey breeds, underlying the importance of setting references specific to breed

Case–Control Study: Endogenous Procalcitonin and Protein Carbonylated Content as a Potential Biomarker of Subclinical Mastitis in Dairy Cows

Procalcitonin (PCT) and protein carbonylated content (PCC) are promising biomarkers for bacterial infection and inflammation in veterinary medicine. This study examined plasma PCT and PCC levels in healthy cows (H) and cows with subclinical mastitis (SCM). A total of 130 cows (65 H and 65 SCM) were included in this study. Blood samples were collected, and plasma was frozen at −80 °C. PCT levels were determined using a bovine procalcitonin ELISA kit, while PCC was measured following the methodology of Levine et al. Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference in PCT levels between H (75.4 pg/mL) and SCM (107.3 pg/mL) cows (p &lt; 0.001) and significantly lower concentrations of PCC in the SCM group (H: 0.102 nmol/mL/mg, SCM: 0.046 nmol/mL/mg; p &lt; 0.001). The PCT cut-off value for distinguishing healthy and subclinical mastitis animals was &gt;89.8 pg/mL (AUC 0.695), with a sensitivity of 66.2% and specificity of 69.2%. PCT showed potential value as a diagnostic tool to help in decision making for subclinical mastitis cases, while PCC requires further studies to investigate the trend of this biomarker during localized pathology

Radiographic parameters of the digit in a cohort population of amiata donkeys

Background: The most common musculoskeletal conditions reported in donkeys are related to the foot. Radiographic examinations are clinically important in the diagnosis of foot abnormalities and are commonly used. However, few studies have been conducted to establish the normal radiographic appearance of a donkey’s foot. Aim: To determine the radiographic features of the front digit in healthy Amiata donkeys. Methods: Radiographic examinations were performed on 56 forefeet of 28 Amiata donkeys. Three radiographic views of each front foot were taken: lateromedial, dorsopalmar and dorso-65°proximal/palmarodistal oblique. Seventeen angular and linear radiographic parameters and the crena solearis were evaluated in all forefeet, and 18 morphometric parameters were evaluated in 16 out of 56 forefeet. Statistical analysis was carried out on all the measures assessed. Results: The radiographic appearance of the forefoot was ascertained, and data were reported as median ± standard error, minimum and maximum values. No statistical differences were obtained between the right and left forefeet. Conclusion: The normal baseline parameters of the forefeet of Amiata donkeys were recorded and described and compared with other donkey breeds and horses. The findings highlighted that the donkey breed affects the radiographic parameters of the digit