Prevalence and persistence of Taylorella asinigenitalis in male donkeys.

The research investigated the prevalence and persistent nature of Taylorella asinigenitalis, a bacterium, in the male donkey population in Michigan, exploring particularly their preferred areas of colonization, and the genetic strains associated with it.

Objective of Research

• The primary objective of this research was to understand the prevalence of Taylorella asinigenitalis, a bacterium, in the male donkey population in Michigan. This was identified on farms where the organism was previously found.
• The study’s secondary aims were to characterize the carrier state in terms of its persistence and the most likely areas of colonization by T. asinigenitalis in male donkeys.
• Lastly, the researchers aimed to determine the genetic makeup of the detected T. asinigenitalis organisms.

Sample and Findings

• The researchers initially tested 43 donkeys and 1 mule, finding 4 donkeys (9.3%) positive for T. asinigenitalis. The 4 positive donkeys were found on 2 different farms with a total of 89 equids, 23 (25.8%) of which were confirmed to be positive for T. asinigenitalis.
• Of the T. asinigenitalis positive population, 67% were gelded donkeys, 36.4% were intact male donkeys, and 25% were gelded horses.
• From the equids tested, the bacterium was not isolated from any females – donkeys, horses, or mules – nor from any male horse or mule.

Preferred Areas of Colonization and Strain Identification

• The study also found that T. asinigenitalis was isolated several times from different breeds of male donkeys over a 33 month period. The bacteria preferred colonizing the urethral fossa, dorsal diverticulum of the urethral sinus, and the terminal urethra of these donkeys.
• The two identified T. asinigenitalis genotypes were indistinguishable from the type strain found in California in 1997, and identical to strains detected in donkey jacks in Kentucky in 1998.