Abstract
A case series study was conducted between December 2009 and April 2010 at the donkey sanctuary and SPANA clinics in Bishoftu town to determine the major causes of equine colic. During the study period a total of 121 (9.1%) episodes of colic were recorded in a population of 1336 equine (800 horses, 500 donkeys and 36 mules). From the total cases 93 (11.6%) and 28 (5.6%) were horses and donkeys, respectively. No mule was observed with colic problem. The proportion of colic cases in horses was significantly (p=0.0003) higher than that of donkeys. The major risk factors found associated with colic were feed change, parasite infestation and poor deworming history, enteroliths, heavy work, age and dental abnormalities (P<0.05) in the cases. Physical and clinical examination of the colic cases showed elevated respiratory and pulse rates, congested mucous membrane, increased mean of PVC-value, decreased appetite, abdominal distension, poor body condition, intermittent and continuous abdominal pain and dullness. Donkey were more commonly affected with impaction colic (78.6%) and less commonly with flatulent colic (21.4%). The most important colic identified in horses was spasmodic colic (66.7%) followed by impaction colic (25.8%) and undefined colic (7.6%). In conclusion, improving feeding management, implementing parasite control strategies and raising the awareness of the owners of equids are needed in order to prevent the impact of the diseases on equine production.
Highlights
Ethiopia has about 10.3 million equine that means, there are about 2.8 million horses, 7.8 million donkeys, and 0.4 million mules hosted by varieties of agro climatic zone [1]
No mule was observed with colic case during the study period (Table 1)
This study has identified that colic is one of the major health problems affecting equine in the study area
Summary
Ethiopia has about 10.3 million equine that means, there are about 2.8 million horses, 7.8 million donkeys, and 0.4 million mules hosted by varieties of agro climatic zone [1]. There is one equine for every four people in the agricultural sector and for every five person of the total population. Low level of development of road transport network and rough terrain of the country make the donkey the most valuable, appropriate and affordable pack animals under small holder farming system of Ethiopia [2]. Horses are more populated in the highland while mules and donkeys in middle and low altitudes of the country. Donkeys and mules are serving as a major means of transporting agricultural products and different items in developing countries [3]. Among the major problems working equines, colic is the first killer disease [4]
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