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Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2024; 14(5); doi: 10.3390/ani14050817

A Retrospective Study on the Status of Working Equids Admitted to an Equine Clinic in Cairo: Disease Prevalence and Associations between Physical Parameters and Outcome.

Abstract: Working equids are often used to exhaustion, living and dying in conditions below minimal welfare standards. Due to their poor welfare status, euthanasia should be considered in certain conditions. The study aimed to describe the population and the disease frequency of the working equids admitted at an equine clinic in Cairo (i.e., Egypt Equine Aid (EEA)) from 2019 to 2022 and identify possible associations between physical parameters at admission and the outcome. Records of 1360 equids admitted at EEA were reviewed. The majority of the admitted equids were horses (65.6%), followed by donkeys (33%), in particular stallions (68.7%), from 1 to 15 years old (74.8%). Hospitalisation was mainly due to wounds (28.9%), orthopaedic problems (27.4%), colic (8.5%), or infectious diseases (7.4%). The majority of the equids were discharged, but 5.1% died on their own, without human intervention, and 23% were euthanised. Text mining revealed the anamnesis's most frequent words were 'accident', 'lameness', and 'wound'. In addition, owners sometimes reported using inappropriate remedies (e.g., firing) before hospitalisation. Multivariable ordinal regression analysis performed between physical parameters and the outcome (ordered based on severity: discharged, euthanasia, and dead) revealed that sex (male vs. female: OR = 1.33; p < 0.05), colour of the mucous membrane (pathological vs. physiological: OR = 1.72; p < 0.01), and capillary refill time (pathological vs. physiological: OR = 1.42; p = 0.02) increased the likelihood of a non-survival outcome. In conclusion, early euthanasia should be considered for these equids, to minimise prolonged suffering. Moreover, owners' education is recommended to guarantee minimal welfare standards to the working equids.
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Publication Date: 2024-03-06 PubMed ID: 38473201PubMed Central: PMC10930472DOI: 10.3390/ani14050817Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research study is an investigation into the health and welfare concerns affecting working horses and donkeys admitted to the Egypt Equine Aid clinic in Cairo. The researchers analysed four years of admission records, observing disease prevalence and seeking patterns connecting physical characteristics with survivability outcomes.

Study Design and Data Collection

  • The study is retrospective, meaning it reviews past data for insights. It covers a period spanning from 2019 through 2022.
  • The researchers analysed records of 1360 working horses and donkeys that were admitted to the Egypt Equine Aid (EEA) clinic in Cairo.
  • Physical parameters considered include the animal’s sex, the colour of mucous membrane, and capillary refill time.

Findings: Disease Prevalence and Common Conditions

  • A majority of the working equids admitted were horses (65.6%) followed by donkeys (33%), largely consisting of stallions between 1 to 15 years old.
  • Most animals were admitted due to injuries (28.9%), orthopedic problems (27.4%), stomach pain known as colic (8.5%), or infectious diseases (7.4%).
  • Words frequency analysis of the animals’ medical histories showed the words ‘accident’, ‘lameness’, and ‘wound‘ as the most commonly used.
  • The animals’ owners had occasionally tried inappropriate health remedies, such as cauterisation technique known as ‘firing’, before seeking professional veterinary treatment.

Findings: Outcome and Survival Analysis

  • A large number of the admitted equids were discharged after receiving treatment. However, some did not survive, with 5.1% dying without human intervention, and 23% necessitating euthanasia.
  • The study conducted a multivariable ordinal regression analysis to identify physical parameters that could indicate a non-survival outcome. Factors increasing the likelihood of non-survival included: being male, having abnormal mucous membrane colour, and abnormal capillary refill time.

Key Recommendations

  • The research study suggests that for certain cases, early euthanasia is a more humane choice given the poor welfare conditions and prolonged suffering these working equids endure.
  • It also recommends education for animal owners to improve treatment of working horses and donkeys and ensure they maintain minimum welfare standards.

Cite This Article

APA
Benedetti B, Freccero F, Barton J, Elmallah F, Refat S, Padalino B. (2024). A Retrospective Study on the Status of Working Equids Admitted to an Equine Clinic in Cairo: Disease Prevalence and Associations between Physical Parameters and Outcome. Animals (Basel), 14(5). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14050817

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 14
Issue: 5

Researcher Affiliations

Benedetti, Beatrice
  • Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 44, 40127 Bologna, Italy.
Freccero, Francesca
  • Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064 Bologna, Italy.
Barton, Jill
  • Egypt Equine Aid, Badrshein, Giza 12989, Egypt.
Elmallah, Farah
  • Egypt Equine Aid, Badrshein, Giza 12989, Egypt.
Refat, Sandy
  • Egypt Equine Aid, Badrshein, Giza 12989, Egypt.
Padalino, Barbara
  • Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 44, 40127 Bologna, Italy.
  • School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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