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Frontiers in veterinary science2020; 7; 601665; doi: 10.3389/fvets.2020.601665

Radiographic and Venographic Appearance of Healthy and Laminitic Feet in Amiata Donkeys.

Abstract: Laminitis is a debilitating disorder resulting in irreversible anatomical changes in the feet of equids. Assessing specific anatomical features through radiography and venography provides diagnostic and prognostic information. The reference ranges are well-established in horses, but not in donkeys. It is also uncertain as to whether these ranges can be applied to every donkey breed. The present study characterizes the radiological and venographic hoof anatomy of healthy feet of Amiata donkeys and defines the changes associated with severe and mild laminitis. A total of 16 forefeet were evaluated in 8 Amiata jennies. The animals underwent musculoskeletal examination, Obel grading assessment and radiological evaluation. Based on clinical examination and radiographic findings, the forefeet were grouped as healthy, mild or severe laminitic feet, thus the digital venograms were performed according to the group definition. Radiology revealed 7/16 healthy, 4/16 mild laminitic, and 5/16 severe laminitic forefeet. Statistical analysis showed differences between the healthy and laminitic forefeet for the dorsal angle ( < 0.0001) and angle of solar aspect ( < 0.0001) of the distal phalanx, for deviation between dorsal aspect of distal phalanx and the hoof wall ( < 0.0001) and phalangeal rotation angle ( = 0.0032). Venography was abnormal in mild and severe laminitic forefeet. In particular, the vascularization was reduced or absent at the lamellar-circumflex junction dorsally, at the sub-lamellar vascular bed and at the circumflex veins. Coronary plexus vascularization was absent in severe laminitic forefeet. This study provides the radiological parameters for the assessment of healthy and laminitic forefeet of Amiata donkeys. The mild laminitic foot venogram showed decreased vascularization mainly on lamellar-circumflex junction and sub-lamellar vascular bed, in latero-medial views. The severe laminitic foot showed very poor or absent vascularization in multiple areas. The technique is easily applicable and provides diagnostic support in laminitis.
Copyright © 2020 Nocera, Aliboni, Ben David, Gracia-Calvo, Sgorbini and Citi.
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Publication Date: 2020-12-21 PubMed ID: 33409297PubMed Central: PMC7779588DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.601665Google 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.

This research explores laminitis, a severe and painful foot condition that affects donkeys, through imaging techniques of foot anatomy. Subsequent findings provide valuable insights into the diagnosis and prognosis of the condition in Amiata Donkeys.

Objective and Methodology

  • The researchers aimed to evaluate and compare the radiographic and venographic anatomy of a healthy donkey’s foot to those suffering from laminitis.
  • They executed this by examining the forefeet of 8 Amiata donkeys: 7 classified as healthy, 4 with mild laminitis, and 5 with severe laminitis.
  • Each foot was subjected to a musculoskeletal examination, an Obel grading assessment (to determine the severity of laminitis), and a radiological evaluation.

Results

  • X-ray imaging and venography showed distinct anatomical changes in the foot from healthy to mild and severe laminitis.
  • These differences were quantitatively confirmed through statistical analysis with the variations becoming more pronounced as the severity of laminitis increased. This was most observable in the dorsal angle and angle of the solar aspect of the distal phalanx, deviation between the dorsal aspect of distal phalanx and the hoof wall, and phalangeal rotation angle.
  • Equally, abnormal venograms indicated diminished or even non-existent vascularization at the lamellar-circumflex junction, the sub-lamellar vascular bed, circumflex veins, and in severe cases the coronary plexus.

Implications and Contribution

  • This study offers the essential radiological parameters required to assess and compare healthy and laminitic forefeet of Amiata donkeys, laying groundwork for potential future solutions or treatments for laminitis.
  • The noted changes in the blood vessels (vascularization) due to laminitis can help veterinarians in diagnostic support of the debilitating condition.
  • The findings from this research are important as they provide necessary diagnostic information that was missing for this donkey breed, thus filling a critical knowledge gap.

Cite This Article

APA
Nocera I, Aliboni B, Ben David L, Gracia-Calvo LA, Sgorbini M, Citi S. (2020). Radiographic and Venographic Appearance of Healthy and Laminitic Feet in Amiata Donkeys. Front Vet Sci, 7, 601665. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2020.601665

Publication

Frontiers in veterinary science
ISSN: 2297-1769
NlmUniqueID: 101666658
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 7
Pages: 601665
PII: 601665

Researcher Affiliations

Nocera, Irene
  • Department of Veterinary Science, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Aliboni, Benedetta
  • Department of Veterinary Science, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Ben David, Liri
  • Private Equine Practitioner, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Gracia-Calvo, Luis Alfonso
  • Faculty of Veterinary Science, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Sgorbini, Micaela
  • Department of Veterinary Science, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Citi, Simonetta
  • Department of Veterinary Science, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Mendoza FJ, Toribio RE, Perez-Ecija A. Metabolic and Endocrine Insights in Donkeys. Animals (Basel) 2024 Feb 10;14(4).
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