Common clinical findings identified in working equids in low- and middle-income countries from 2005 to 2021.
Authors: Merridale-Punter Mathilde S, Wiethoelter Anke K, El-Hage Charles M, Patrick Cameron, Hitchens Peta L
Journal: PloS one
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Clinical findings in working equids across low- and middle-income countries Working equids represent millions of animals globally, yet epidemiological data on their health and welfare remain sparse—a gap this study addresses by analysing over 4.3 million clinical presentations from NGO records across 14 countries between 2005 and 2021. Wounds and abscesses dominated the clinical picture, accounting for approximately 35% of all reported findings, with donkeys showing significantly higher wound prevalence (41.7%) compared to mules and horses. Notably, mortality risk differed markedly by species, with mules exhibiting a 1.2% mortality rate versus 0.4% in horses and just 0.2% in donkeys—a disparity warranting urgent investigation into underlying risk factors. These patterns highlight that work-related trauma, rather than metabolic or infectious disease, represents the primary health burden in working equid populations, indicating that intervention efforts should prioritise equipment redesign and improved working practices rather than clinical treatment alone. The findings underscore both the valuable epidemiological potential of NGO-collected data for surveillance systems and the critical need for standardised diagnostic and recording protocols to enable meaningful comparison across regions and time periods, allowing practitioners and policymakers to objectively measure the impact of welfare improvements.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Work-related wounds and abscesses are the primary health concern in working equids—prioritize prevention through improved equipment design, regular maintenance, and handler training to reduce trauma
- •Donkeys bear disproportionate wound burden; evaluate their work equipment, harnesses, and saddle fit as urgent welfare priority in your operations
- •Mules warrant heightened health monitoring and mortality investigation; consider whether work intensity, breed-specific conditions, or management factors contribute to their higher death risk
Key Findings
- •Wounds and abscesses were the most common clinical finding across all equid species, representing 35% of all presentations (SD ±0.19)
- •Donkeys had significantly higher proportion of wounds (41.7%) compared to mules and horses (P<0.001)
- •Mules demonstrated the highest mortality risk at 1.2% (95% CI 0.94-1.46%), significantly higher than horses (0.4%) and donkeys (0.2%; P<0.001)
- •Data collected from 4.3 million presentations across 14 low- and middle-income countries over 16 years demonstrates work-related wounds as predominant preventable health issue in working equids