Clinical research

Essential oils in the management of the donkey louse, bovicola ocellatus

Status
Completed
Applicant(s)
Richard Wall
Collaborator(s)
Faith A. Burden
Bryony Sands
Researcher(s)
Lauren Ellse
Research award
Clinical research
Start date
End date
Country
United Kingdom
Methodology

In vivo field trial. Suspensions of 5% (v/v) tea tree or lavender oil or an excipient only control were groomed into the coats of winter-housed donkeys (n = 198) on 2 occasions, 2 weeks apart. Louse counts were conducted before each application and 2 weeks later.

Objectives

To assess the effects of incorporating the essential oils of tea tree and lavender into a grooming programme for populations of donkeys with natural infestations of Bovicola ocellatus in the UK and Ireland when louse populations were at their winter seasonal peak.

Results

After 2 applications, the groups groomed with lavender or tea tree oil suspensions had a significant reduction in louse intensity, with a mean decline in louse abundance of 78% (95% confidence interval 76–80%). Louse numbers in the groups groomed with excipient only either did not change or increased significantly. Donkey hair length had no effect on the decline in louse numbers.

Conclusions

These results demonstrate that the inclusion of essential oil suspensions during grooming can be used to manage louse populations successfully.

Keywords
donkey
lice
louse

Reference intervals for biochemical and haematological parameters in mature domestic donkeys (equus asinus) in the UK

Status
Completed
Applicant(s)
Harriet Brooks Brownlie
Collaborator(s)
Faith A. Burden
Mulugeta Getachew
Elizabeth Hazell-Smith
Valerie Patrick
Ryan Trawford
Research award
Clinical research
Start date
End date
Country
United Kingdom
Methodology

Blood samples were collected over a period of 3 years and 4 months from clinically healthy donkeys being prepared for rehoming from The Donkey Sanctuary. Complete blood counts and biochemical profiles were carried out within 24 hours of sampling.

Aims

To revise previously established haematology and serum biochemistry values in adult domestic donkeys in the UK.

Results

Blood samples from 138 donkeys were examined, ranging in age from 4-24 years. Data from 18 haematological and 20 biochemical analytes were analysed using non-parametric statistical testing. Reference interval transferability was calculated showing 15/18 haematological and 14/19 biochemical RIs were transferable between previous donkey RIs and these RIs. Of particular clinical note when comparing the new donkey RI with that reported previously is a narrowing of the RI for triglycerides with the upper limit of the range being 2.8 mmol/l as compared with the previous 4.3 mmol/l. It is very important that veterinarians note this difference as this upper limit of triglycerides is commonly used to determine the risk of a donkey becoming hyperlipaemic.

Conclusions

This study establishes reviewed reference intervals for haematological and biochemical parameters for donkeys. The reference intervals in this study are appropriate for use in non-working, mature donkeys kept in temperate climates and are now used by the diagnostic laboratories of The Donkey Sanctuary UK to aid clinical decision making in their resident animals. These reviewed reference intervals also underpin comments appended to results of blood samples from privately owned donkeys submitted by veterinarians to the diagnostic laboratory of The Donkey Sanctuary. These reference intervals may not be relevant to other donkey populations such as working donkeys in tropical regions. Their extrapolation to animals of extremes of age or in specific physiological states should be undertaken with caution. The lack of transferability noted between study parameters in donkeys and horses highlights the importance of using species-specific reference intervals for clinical assessment of veterinary cases.

Keywords
donkey
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The Donkey Sanctuary is a UK based charity that funds and facilitates non-invasive research with the aim of improving donkey and mule health and welfare.

Our research aims

We are continually raising the standards of care and improving our levels of expertise by increasing our knowledge base.

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The Donkey Sanctuary,
Sidmouth, Devon EX10 0NU.

Telephone: +44 (0) 1395 578222.