An investigation of the equine infectious disease threat represented by the presence of donkeys at mixed equestrian events in Ireland.
Abstract: The number of abandoned or otherwise neglected donkeys has significantly increased in Ireland in the recent past. The real or perceived capacity of the donkey to act as a reservoir of equine infectious disease, and thus pose an increased risk of disease transmission to horses and ponies, may be a factor in this increased abandonment and neglect. The authors here report on a field study exploring the infectious disease transmission threat the donkey poses to the general equine industry in Ireland through an examination of biosecurity standards and the views of horse and donkey exhibitors at nine mixed equestrian events in 2014. Quantitative information was gathered via the organising committee (if any) and through an examination of facilities and procedures. Qualitative information was gathered using a semi-structured questionnaire to ascertain the view of exhibitors regarding the keeping of donkeys and any infectious disease transmission risks posed. Results: At eight of nine events visited there were no entrance controls, no veterinary examinations, no enforcement of legislation regarding equine identification and equine premises registration and no isolation facilities on site for equids. Contact between donkeys and other equids was largely uncontrolled. Exhibitors had travelled from abroad to one event. Exhibitors generally opined that they did not perceive the donkey to represent any additional infectious disease transmission threat above that posed by other equids; there was however a general sense that donkeys were less well regarded for other reasons including nuisance and uselessness. Conclusions: When biosecurity controls are not in place (or enforced) to actually check passports, verify identification and equine premises registration, mixed equestrian events may unwittingly act as the mechanism of spread of endemic and potentially more seriously exotic equine infectious disease. Donkeys were not generally considered by equine exhibitors at mixed events in Ireland to represent a heightened reservoir of disease or to pose an increased risk of transmission of contagious disease suggesting that other factors should be considered more important when studying the incidence of abandonment and neglect.
Publication Date: 2015-06-12 PubMed ID: 26075056PubMed Central: PMC4465722DOI: 10.1186/s13620-015-0041-6Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research article investigates whether donkeys pose a potential risk for the transmission of infectious equine diseases at mixed equestrian events in Ireland and whether this could be a contributing factor to the increased abandonment of donkeys in recent years.
Research Methodology
- The researchers carried out a field study at nine mixed equestrian events in Ireland in 2014.
- They sought to assess the threat of disease transmission posed by donkeys at these events by evaluating biosecurity standards and gathering opinions from horse and donkey exhibitors.
- Data was compiled through observations made by the research team, inquiry of event organising committees, and a semi-structured questionnaire for exhibitors.
Findings
- Eight out of the nine events visited lacked the basic necessities for biosecurity like controlled access, veterinary inspections, and isolation facilities for animals.
- Moreover, regulations such as checking equine identification and premises registration were not enforced, possibly increasing the risk of disease spread.
- Interactions between donkeys and other equids were commonly unrestricted, which could facilitate the transmission of infectious diseases.
- Despite these conditions, most exhibitors did not view donkeys as a more significant disease transmission threat compared to other equids, but stated that they were perceived as less valuable and more of a nuisance.
Conclusion
- The study suggests that the relaxed approach towards biosecurity at mixed equestrian events can potentially promote the spread of infectious equine diseases.
- Even though donkeys were not seen as a higher risk factor for disease transmission, their often negative perception by exhibitors could contribute to the high instances of donkey abandonment.
- This implies that other factors, rather than solely health concerns, should be considered in efforts aimed at addressing the neglect and abandonment of donkeys.
Cite This Article
APA
Finney S, Collins JA, Duggan V.
(2015).
An investigation of the equine infectious disease threat represented by the presence of donkeys at mixed equestrian events in Ireland.
Ir Vet J, 68(1), 11.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13620-015-0041-6 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
- Deerpark Veterinary Services, Castlelyons, Co Cork Ireland.
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
References
This article includes 11 references
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Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Spence KL, O'Sullivan TL, Poljak Z, Greer AL. Descriptive and network analyses of the equine contact network at an equestrian show in Ontario, Canada and implications for disease spread. BMC Vet Res 2017 Jun 21;13(1):191.
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