Abstract
Simple SummaryDonkeys have been neglected and threatened by abandonment, indiscriminate slaughter, and a lack of proper sanitary management. They are often treated as “small horses.” However, donkeys and horses have significant genetic, physiological, and behavioral differences. Specific knowledge about viral infectious diseases that affect donkeys and mules is important to mitigate disease outbreaks. Thus, the purpose of this review is to provide a brief update on viral diseases of donkeys and mules and ways to prevent their spread.Donkeys (Equus asinus) and mules represent approximately 50% of the entire domestic equine herd in the world and play an essential role in the lives of thousands of people, primarily in developing countries. Despite their importance, donkeys are currently a neglected and threatened species due to abandonment, indiscriminate slaughter, and a lack of proper sanitary management. Specific knowledge about infectious viral diseases that affect this group of Equidae is still limited. In many cases, donkeys and mules are treated like horses, with the physiological differences between these species usually not taken into account. Most infectious diseases that affect the Equidae family are exclusive to the family, and they have a tremendous economic impact on the equine industry. However, some viruses may cross the species barrier and affect humans, representing an imminent risk to public health. Nevertheless, even with such importance, most studies are conducted on horses (Equus caballus), and there is little comparative information on infection in donkeys and mules. Therefore, the objective of this article is to provide a brief update on viruses that affect donkeys and mules, thereby compromising their performance and well-being. These diseases may put them at risk of extinction in some parts of the world due to neglect and the precarious conditions they live in and may ultimately endanger other species’ health and humans.
Highlights
Horses (Equus caballus) and donkeys (Equus asinus) are mammals belonging to genus, Equus, which emerged approximately 4.5 million years ago [1]
Equine infectious anemia (EIA) is a worldwide disease caused by the Equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV), a lentivirus classified in the family Retroviridae that exclusively affects horses, mules, and donkeys [18]
There are several diseases affecting members of the Equidae family worldwide considered of compulsory notification by the Organization for Animal Health (OIE); only eleven are caused by viruses, and these include the equine infectious anemia, the equine encephalomyelitis caused by flaviviruses or alphaviruses, the equine influenza, infection with equine herpesvirus (EHV)-1 and Alphaarterivirus equid, as well as the African horse sickness and rabies [168]
Summary
Horses (Equus caballus) and donkeys (Equus asinus) are mammals belonging to genus, Equus, which emerged approximately 4.5 million years ago [1]. Most donkey and mule populations are concentrated in the Asian continent, as well as in some countries of Central America, South America and Africa, ensuring the livelihood of 500 million people in poor communities in developing countries around the world These donkeys and mules are used mainly as work animals (transporting cargo and traction) and for transporting people [6]. Analysis of the complete genome of horses and donkeys showed divergences in genes directly involved in the inflammatory response to trauma (ITIH4) and in the regulation of cholesterol synthesis (HMGCR) These genes were positively selected in donkeys [1,8] and, they produce significant differences in physiological and biochemical parameters when compared to horses (Table 1). The main purpose of this article is to review the published literature and online resources (e.g., official donkey websites and non-governmental organizations (NGOs)) compiling and providing an update on the main viral diseases of equids on donkeys and mules
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