Study on Some Clinical Important Physiological and Hematological Reference Values for Indigenous Apparently Healthy Donkeys in Around Asella Town, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

Abstract

In the tropical regions Donkeys are exposed to the effects of various environmental factors that alter their physiological and hematological values, which is particularly significant in working Donkeys. However, very little has been done to establish hematological and physiological reference values of local breeds of donkeys in Ethiopia. This study was aimed to determine hematological and physiological reference values for apparently healthy indigenous donkeys breeds in order to form a basis for clinical interpretation in and around Asella town of Oromia regional state, Ethiopia. The study was conducted from January to July 2021 by taking into account vital physiological parameters like body temperature, heart rate, and respiration rate from a total of 32 study animals. All appropriate records for physiological and blood samples for hematological analysis were collected from 32 donkeys. There was a statistically significant difference (P<0.05) in the physiological heart and respiratory rates against the age of the study donkeys. However, there was no statistically significant (P>0.05) difference in all hematological values of donkeys among sex groups. The mean values of body temperature obtained in this study were: young (37.12±.6.05 o C) and adult (37.55±0.58 o C) donkeys. Similarly, for female and male donkeys were 37.55±0.58 and 37.12 ±6.05 o C, respectively. The mean values of heart rate for young and adult donkeys were 46.93±5.31 and 38±3.98, respectively. The mean values of heart rate for female and male donkeys were 58.08±11.2 and 52.46±7.32, consecutively. The present study result should serve as a reference purpose after proper validation in the study animals and further studies in a various agro-climatic zone of the country, Ethiopia. Keywords: Age, Asella, donkeys, hematological, parameters, physiological, sex. DOI: 10.7176/ALST/94-02 Publication date: August 31 st 2022