Omneity® Pellets
All-In-One Vitamin & Mineral Pellet
Tracheal collapse rates in Kenyan working cart and pack donkeys.
Abstract: Donkeys (Equus asinus) in East Africa are recognised as working with poorly designed harnesses and carts. The donkey cart used in regions of Africa, specifically Meru County, Kenya, appears to place the cart's weight solely on the donkey's mid-cervical region. The ventral area of the neck is vulnerable to external pressure on the trachea, which is superficially located. Objective: To compare the presence and severity of endoscopic abnormalities in the upper airway and trachea of Meru County working cart donkeys compared to pack donkeys. To determine associations between endoscopic and physical evidence of harness injury. Methods: Cross-sectional. Methods: At voluntary health clinics, physical examination and endoscopy of the upper airway and trachea were evaluated and recorded at rest on 66 donkeys (38 cart donkeys and 28 pack donkeys). The presence and grade of tracheal collapse, tracheal ring abnormalities, tracheal mucus, and pharyngitis were subsequently determined on the endoscopy recordings by blinded evaluators. Results: Significant associations were identified between work type and tracheal collapse severity, ring abnormalities, pharyngitis, hairless skin, and thickened skin, with these findings more common in cart than pack donkeys (all p < 0.03). Moderate tracheal collapse (grade 3) was present in 40% (95% CI: 24%-57%) of cart and 0% (0%-12%) of pack donkeys. Intra-tracheal ring abnormalities were noted in 45% (29%-62%) of cart and 0% (0%-12%) of pack donkeys. Physical examination findings were significantly and positively associated with endoscopy findings (all p < 0.002). Conclusions: Standing endoscopy was performed at rest and dynamic endoscopy during the pulling of carts was not performed. Conclusions: Moderate tracheal collapse was seen in cart donkeys when compared to pack donkeys. Physical examination findings at rest were associated with and moderately predictive of tracheal collapse.
© 2025 The Author(s). Equine Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of EVJ Ltd.
Publication Date: 2025-06-26 PubMed ID: 40567126DOI: 10.1111/evj.14545Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- 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 studied the difference between tracheal collapse in Kenyan working cart and pack donkeys. Findings indicate that donkeys pulling carts had a significantly higher rate of tracheal collapse and other tracheal abnormalities, which was attributed to the weight and pressure exerted on the animal’s neck by the poorly designed harnesses and carts.
Objective and Methodology
- The study aimed to compare the presence and severity of upper airway and trachea abnormalities in Kenyan working donkeys, particularly those that carry carts, to those that carry packs. It also sought to determine if there was a correlation between visual evidence of harness injury and the endoscopy results.
- The researchers performed physical examinations and endoscopies on 66 voluntary donkeys, 38 of which were cart donkeys and 28 were pack donkeys.
- The endoscopy results were later evaluated by separate evaluators, who were blinded to the working type of the donkey, to determine the presence and grade of abnormalities such as tracheal collapse, tracheal ring deformities, tracheal mucus, and pharyngitis.
Results
- The study showed that the cart donkeys had more severe tracheal conditions compared to the pack donkeys. These health conditions included tracheal collapse, ring abnormalities, pharyngitis, hairless skin, and thickened skin. Moderate tracheal collapse was found in 40% of cart donkeys, but in none of the pack donkeys.
- Intra-tracheal ring abnormalities were present in 45% of cart donkeys, but found in none of the pack donkeys.
- The results indicated a strong correlation between the physical examination and endoscopy findings, suggesting that physical evidence of harness injury generally indicated the presence of internal airway and tracheal abnormalities.
Conclusion
- The study concluded that donkeys outfitted with carts experienced a higher likelihood of experiencing tracheal collapse when compared to those carrying packs.
- Physical examination of the donkey can help in predicting the risk of tracheal collapse. However, the research methodology did not include dynamic endoscopy carried out during cart pulling, which is a potential area for further research.
Cite This Article
APA
Mellish M, Burns J, Elce Y, Stull JW.
(2025).
Tracheal collapse rates in Kenyan working cart and pack donkeys.
Equine Vet J.
https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14545 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Health Management, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada.
- Department of Health Management, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada.
- Department of Health Management, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada.
- Department of Health Management, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada.
Grant Funding
- Merck Animal Health
- Zoetis
- Farmers Helping Farmers
- Atlantic Veterinary College
References
This article includes 20 references
- Davis E. Donkey and mule welfare. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 2019;35(3):481–491.
- Carder G, Ingasia O, Ngenoh E, Theuri S, Rono D, Langat P. The emerging trade in donkey hide: an opportunity or a threat for communities in Kenya?. Agri Sci 2019;10(9):1152–1177.
- Gichure M, Onono J, Wahome R, Gathura P. Analysis of the benefits and production challenges of working donkeys in smallholder farming systems in Kenya. Vet World 2020;13(11):2346–2352.
- Mellish MA, Stull JW. Working donkey welfare assessment and owner survey in Meru County, Kenya. Anim Welf 2025, in review.
- Rodrigues JB, Garrett C, Norris SL, Albuquerque F, Queijo L, Cooke F. Collar pressure mapping: an evaluation of seven collar types used on working donkeys in Europe. Vet Rec 2021;189(8):e772.
- Bukhari SSUH, Parkes RSV. Assessing the impact of draught load pulling on welfare in equids. Front Vet Sci 2023;10:1214015.
- Tetens J, Hubert JD, Eddy AL, Moore RM. Dynamic tracheal collapse as a cause of exercise intolerance in a Thoroughbred. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2000;216(5):722–724.
- Mellor DJ, Beausoleil NJ. Equine welfare during exercise: an evaluation of breathing, breathlessness and bridles. Animals 2017;7(6):41.
- Barrio E, Rickards KJ, Thiemann AK. Clinical evaluation and preventative care in donkeys. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 2019;35(3):545–560.
- Thiemann AK. Respiratory disease in the donkey. Equine Vet Educ 2011;24(9):469–478.
- Tangner CH, Hobson HP. A retrospective study of 20 surgically managed cases of collapsed trachea. Vet Surg 1982;11(4):146–149.
- Powell RJ, du Toit N, Burden FA, Dixon PM. Morphological study of tracheal shape in donkeys with and without tracheal obstruction. Equine Vet J 2010;42(2):136–141.
- Every LJ, Hostnik ET, Hostnik LD, Yardley J, Shore‐Khirallah AT, Thompson A. Radiographic tracheal lumen to vertebral ratios in the normal American Miniature Horse. Equine Vet J 2019;52(3):428–434.
- Morrow LD, Smith KC, Piercy RJ, du Toit N, Burden FA, Olmos G. Retrospective analysis of post‐mortem findings in 1,444 aged donkeys. J Comp Pathol 2010;144(2–3):145–156.
- Gerber V, Straub R, Marti E, Hauptman J, Herholz C, King M. Endoscopic scoring of mucus quantity and quality: observer and horse variance and relationship to inflammation, mucus viscoelasticity and volume. Equine Vet J 2004;36(7):576–582.
- Ohnesorge B, Gehlen H, Deegen E. Disorders of the trachea in horses. Equine respiratory diseases 2000.
- Landis JR, Koch GG. The measurement of observer agreement for categorical data. Biometrics 1977;33:159–174.
- Graham SB, Schilpp D, Bradley WM, Cook G, Gayle J. Treatment of traumatic tracheal collapse with extraluminal titanium mesh screens. Equine Vet Educ 2010;22(11):557–563.
- . The peculiarities of donkey disease. .
- Upjohn MM, Pfeiffer DU, Verheyen KL. Helping working Equidae and their owners in developing countries: monitoring and evaluation of evidence‐based interventions. Vet J 2013;199(2):210–216.
Citations
This article has been cited 0 times.Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
