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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Anim Sci / Stress, lipid profile and inflammatory responses to flunixin...
Veterinary and animal science2024; 27; 100423; doi: 10.1016/j.vas.2024.100423

Stress, lipid profile and inflammatory responses to flunixin meglumine administration in surgical and non-surgical castration in donkeys.

Abstract: Donkeys are in the Equidae family but have several differences from horses. There are many studies on the pathophysiology of pain and its clinical signs in horses, but data are limited for donkeys. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate biochemical effects of flunixin meglumine in donkeys subjected to pain induced by bloodless and surgical castration. Twenty healthy male donkeys were randomly divided into four groups: 1- Surgical castration with flunixin injection, 2- Surgical castration without flunixin injection, 3- Non-surgical castration with flunixin injection, and 4- Non-surgical castration without flunixin injection. Blood samples were collected a day before surgical procedures; four hours, one day, and two days after castration. Serum levels of IL-6, TNF-α, CRP, fibrinogen, cortisol, triglyceride, and cholesterol significantly increased in non-surgical castrated group compared to the other groups. Moreover, the levels of the measured parameters were significantly higher in the non-surgically castrated group compared to the surgically castrated group. Furtheremore, flunixin meglumine administration reduced the levels of the mentioned parameters, and it was significant for TNF-α and fibrinogen in the surgically castrated donkeys. However, in the nonsurgically castrated animals, there was a significant reduction in the levels of all mentioned parameters except for fibrinogen. It was concluded that non-surgical method, compared to the surgical method, was accompanied by more inflammation, stress, and pain; therefore, the surgical method could be suggested as a preferred technique for the castration of donkeys. Furthermore, the injection of flunixin meglumine could be suggested in the castration of donkeys, particularly in the bloodless technique.
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Publication Date: 2024-12-22 PubMed ID: 39835330PubMed Central: PMC11743893DOI: 10.1016/j.vas.2024.100423Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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 study investigates the impact of flunixin meglumine, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, on biochemical responses in donkeys following surgical and non-surgical castration. The researchers conclude that non-surgical castration leads to increased inflammation, stress, and pain in donkeys compared to surgical castration, and that flunixin meglumine can help to reduce these factors, especially in the non-surgical technique.

Study Design

  • The study examined 20 healthy male donkeys, randomly divided into four groups: groups receiving surgical or non-surgical castration, either with or without the injection of flunixin meglumine.
  • Blood samples were collected at different points in time before and after the castration procedure to measure various serum levels.
  • The researchers observed inflammation markers (IL-6, TNF-α, CRP, fibrinogen), stress hormone cortisol, and lipid profile (triglyceride, cholesterol).

Main Findings

  • Levels of the inflammation markers and cortisol significantly increased in the non-surgical group compared to the surgical group, indicating heightened inflammation and stress response in donkeys undergoing non-surgical castration.
  • Similarly, lipid profile levels (triglyceride, and cholesterol) also raised significantly in the non-surgical group, which suggests a more significant metabolic disturbance linked to the stress of the non-surgical procedure.
  • The administration of flunixin meglumine resulted to lower levels of certain inflammation markers and cortisol, indicating its effective analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties.
  • In the non-surgical group, flunixin meglumine reduced all mentioned parameters except fibrinogen.

Conclusions

  • The research concludes that donkeys undergoing non-surgical castration experience higher levels of inflammation, stress, and pain than those subjected to surgical castration.
  • The study suggests opting for surgical castration over the non-surgical method considering the reduced stress and inflammation.
  • Furthermore, the paper recommends the use of flunixin meglumine—especially in non-surgical castration—for its apparent effectiveness in reducing inflammation, stress and pain.

Cite This Article

APA
Alipour-Khairkhah H, Azizi S, Asri-Rezaei S. (2024). Stress, lipid profile and inflammatory responses to flunixin meglumine administration in surgical and non-surgical castration in donkeys. Vet Anim Sci, 27, 100423. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vas.2024.100423

Publication

Veterinary and animal science
ISSN: 2451-943X
NlmUniqueID: 101694897
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 27
Pages: 100423

Researcher Affiliations

Alipour-Khairkhah, Hamidreza
  • Department of Surgery and Diagnostic Imaging, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.
Azizi, Saeed
  • Department of Surgery and Diagnostic Imaging, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.
Asri-Rezaei, Siamak
  • Department of Clinical Pathology and Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

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