Published as conference proceedings

Background: Equine herpesviruses (EHV) are among the most diagnosed infectious diseases of equids. The type and clinical presentation of herpesvirus infection in donkeys can differ to that of horses. There is especially limited donkey-specific literature regarding gamma herpes viruses.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to retrospectively review positive herpesvirus cases in equids across 10 sanctuary sites in the south of England, examine the type of viruses identified and associated clinical manifestations.

Study design: Retrospective case review.

Methods: Identification of herpesvirus positive q-PCR results over a 15-month period from January 2023 to March 2024 through laboratory records. All descriptive statistical analysis was performed using R v4.2.1 and RStudio v2023.06.1.

Results: A total of 21 positive test results from 20 individual cases were examined. The population consisted of 19 donkeys and 1 pony, with ages ranging from 7 to 31. Sample types included nasopharyngeal, nasal, and ocular swabs, eye tissues and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). EHV-2 was identified most frequently (12/21), including once in CSF, followed by EHV-8, formerly known as asinine herpesvirus-3, (8/21) and then EHV-5 (1/21). Overall, 43% (9/21) of positive cases were associated with outbreaks of disease. Serous nasal discharge was the most reported presenting sign across all positive cases (9/21), found also in 88% (7/8) of EHV-8 cases. Ultimately 70% of all positive cases resolved, 30% were euthanised, and of those 83% (5/6) had concurrent or chronic illness.

Main limitations: Due to the study design, the dataset available for analysis is limited. Consequently, only descriptive statistics are included.

Conclusion: Herpesvirus positive cases in donkeys and ponies at The Donkey Sanctuary, UK are often associated with outbreaks and a variety of clinical manifestations, from mild respiratory signs to severe neurological, respiratory, and ophthalmic disease. Screening for EHV-1 and EHV-4 in acutely unwell donkeys may overlook virus types associated with severe and infectious disease.

Background: Donkey hooves have differences in anatomy from the horse; hoof disease is a significant cause of lameness and mortality in donkeys. Surgery is required to treat sepsis of P3 and keratomas. There is little published data and no case series in donkey for these conditions.

Objectives: To determine the success of treatment of surgical conditions of the donkey hoof in a population (2500 donkeys) during the study period 13 September 2018 to 18 February 2020.

Study design: Case series.

Methods: A protocol for hoof surgery implemented prior to the study ensured standardisation of data. A retrospective analysis of case records, treatments, and histology was undertaken; results were entered and analysed in a standard Excel spreadsheet.

Results: There were nine cases of septic pedal osteitis, two were euthanased (22%). There were two cases of canker: one was euthanased after two standing surgeries. There were 13 cases with keratoma-like lesions. These contained dyskeratotic keratin and, in 11 cases filamentous micro-organisms. Results of surgical removal compared favourably with case series in horses, there being no mortalities, and all returning to soundness.

Main limitations: The numbers were relatively low, and the donkeys were companion animals, meaning that a direct comparison with an athletic horse population is not possible.

Conclusions: Foot surgery in donkeys carries similar success rates to the horse.

A small survey of working donkeys in Mexico illustrated a high prevalence of dental disease (62%). However, only 18% of cases were severe enough to have an apparent impact on the a donkey's welfare and required dental treatment. Many donkeys manage well with some degree of dental disease and owner education about agerelated dental disease and the need for supplemental feeding will alleviate some of the welfare implications of dental disease, particularly where resources for dental treatment are limited.