Ultrasonography Evaluation of Umbilical Structures in Clinically Healthy Donkey Foals during the First Week of Life.
Authors: Vitale Valentina, Nocera Irene, Sgorbini Micaela, Aliboni Benedetta, Laus Fulvio, Mannini Aurora, Bazzano Marilena
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary Umbilical infections represent a significant health risk in neonatal equines, yet reference data for donkey foals remain scarce despite their clinical importance. Researchers used portable ultrasonography (5–7.5 MHz linear probe) to measure umbilical vein, arterial and urachal dimensions in 15 healthy donkey foals at 24 hours, 3 days and 7 days of age, applying non-parametric statistical analysis to track regression patterns. Notably, umbilical structures regressed more slowly in donkey foals than in equine foals over the first week, though the rate of involution was comparable to that observed in calves—a finding with direct implications for clinical interpretation of imaging findings. Practitioners evaluating donkey foals for suspected umbilical remnant disease should account for this slower physiological timeline when determining whether measurements fall outside normal limits, and may benefit from establishing breed-specific ultrasonographic reference ranges rather than relying on equine-based parameters. This work underscores the importance of species-specific normative data to avoid misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment escalation in donkey neonates presenting with umbilical concerns.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Establish separate ultrasonographic reference ranges for donkey foals rather than applying equine standards, as umbilical structures regress more slowly in donkeys during the first week of life
- •Use portable ultrasound with 5-7.5 MHz linear probe to establish baseline umbilical measurements at 24 hours to aid early detection of umbilical infections in donkey foals
- •When assessing umbilical pathology in neonatal donkeys, account for the slower regression timeline compared to foals—structures that appear abnormal in a foal may be normal in a donkey at the same age
Key Findings
- •Umbilical remnant regression in donkey foals during the first week of life showed no statistical differences across 24h, 3-day, and 7-day measurements
- •Correlation found between body weight and left umbilical artery diameter at 24 hours of life
- •Donkey foal umbilical regression was slower than reported in equine foals but comparable to calves
- •Different regression timing in donkey foals must be considered when evaluating umbilical remnant diseases in the first week of life