Pathology of gastric lesions in donkeys: A preliminary study.

The research article is a descriptive study on the severity, distribution, and causes of gastric lesions in mature donkeys, indicating that ulceration in the non-glandular regions is more prominent and that parasitic infestations are frequent.

Objective and Methodology

• The researchers aimed to understand the prevalence, extent, and causes of gastric lesions and ulcers in mature donkeys, particularly with respect to the parasites involved, due to the lack of extensive research in this issue outside the British context.
• To achieve this, they conducted a descriptive study where they physically inspected the stomachs of 35 mature draft donkeys, and also took histopathology samples from 5 regions of the gastric mucosa for microscopic examination.

Findings

• The gross examination revealed hyperemia (increased blood flow), edema (swelling), erosions, and ulcers, alongside lesions caused by parasites.
• On a microscopic level, the examinations identified hyperkeratosis (thickening of the skin), acanthosis (thickening of the skin in the lower layers), and vacuolar degeneration of stratified squamous cells (breakdown of cells). Gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining), erosions, ulcerations, scars, hyperactivity of mucus glands, and periglandular fibroplasia (excessive growth of tissues) were also observed.
• Further, the presence of parasitic granulomes (inflammatory nodules) indicated infestation by different parasites, specifically Gasterophilus spp. larvae, Habronema spp., and Draschia megastoma.

Conclusions

• The study found that in donkeys, the non-glandular regions of the stomach were more prone to ulceration than the glandular regions, highlighting an area that needs more protection or care.
• Parasitic infestations were a common occurring factor too, suggesting the importance of deworming and other preventative measures.

Overall, this preliminary study provides valuable insights into the pathology of gastric lesions in donkeys and sets the stage for more in-depth research in this area, especially in regions beyond the UK.