Chronic pancreatitis associated with hypertriglyceridemia in a domestic donkey (Equus asinus).
Authors: Pastor F M, Miranda A L S, Monteiro N C C, Carvalho T S, Diamantino C A, Barros S O, Torres L E C, Leme F O Paes, Maranhão R P A, Ocarino N M, Serakides R
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
Pancreatitis remains diagnostically challenging in donkeys due to its rarity, yet this 2025 case report documents a four-year-old Pêga donkey presenting with severe abdominal pain and dysuria, where elevated serum lipase, amylase, and triglycerides ultimately pointed towards pancreatic inflammation. Histopathological examination confirmed chronic, multifocal necrotising pancreatitis with lymphocytic infiltration, directly associated with the animal's hypertriglyceridaemia—a metabolic state compounded by obesity resulting from a high-calorie feeding regime. The clinical significance lies in expanding the differential diagnosis for unexplained abdominal pain in equids, particularly donkeys and other species prone to metabolic syndrome, where marked hypertriglyceridaemia should raise suspicion for pancreatic involvement even when traditional clinical signs prove ambiguous. Practitioners should remain vigilant for the triad of obesity, high circulating triglycerides, and persistent visceral pain in donkeys receiving excessive caloric intake, as these factors appear to precipitate potentially fatal pancreatic disease. Prevention through appropriate dietary management, caloric restriction, and regular exercise remains paramount, given that metabolic complications secondary to overfeeding may be far more prevalent in this species than current literature suggests.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Consider pancreatitis in the differential diagnosis for donkeys and other equids presenting with abdominal pain, especially when serum triglycerides are elevated—a rare but important diagnosis to rule out
- •Obesity and high-calorie diets pose metabolic and endocrine risks in equids; implement balanced nutrition and regular exercise programs as preventive management strategies
- •Elevated triglycerides, lipase, and amylase in an equid with abdominal pain warrant further investigation and careful consideration of pancreatitis as a potential underlying cause
Key Findings
- •Chronic multifocal lymphocytic and necrotizing pancreatitis was confirmed in a four-year-old donkey with elevated serum triglycerides, lipase, and amylase despite rarity of the condition in equids
- •High-calorie diet and obesity were associated with hypertriglyceridemia and pancreatitis development in this case
- •Pancreatitis should be included in differential diagnosis for equids presenting with uncontrollable abdominal pain of unknown origin, particularly those with elevated serum triglycerides