Viral Diseases that Affect Donkeys and Mules.
Authors: Câmara Rebeca Jéssica Falcão, Bueno Bruna Lopes, Resende Cláudia Fideles, Balasuriya Udeni B R, Sakamoto Sidnei Miyoshi, Reis Jenner Karlisson Pimenta Dos
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
Donkeys and mules comprise roughly half the global domestic equine population and remain critical to livelihoods in developing regions, yet they are significantly underrepresented in veterinary research compared to horses, despite physiological differences that affect disease manifestation and treatment responses. This 2020 review synthesised current knowledge of viral diseases affecting donkeys and mules by examining published literature on infection patterns, clinical presentations, and epidemiological data across Equidae species. The authors identified multiple viruses endemic to equines—including equine herpesvirus, equine arteritis virus, and equine infectious anaemia—whilst highlighting important gaps in understanding how these pathogens behave differently in donkeys and mules versus horses, including variations in susceptibility, severity, and carrier status. Beyond direct production losses, several viruses possess zoonotic potential, creating public health implications that warrant closer surveillance in species where sanitary management is often inadequate. Equine professionals working with donkeys and mules should recognise that extrapolating equine treatment protocols and vaccination strategies may be inappropriate; instead, species-specific diagnostic approaches and tailored management protocols are essential, particularly in resource-limited settings where these animals face compounding risks from poor husbandry, abandonment, and lack of preventive healthcare.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Do not assume donkey and mule disease presentations, susceptibilities, and treatment responses are identical to horses—seek species-specific diagnostic and management protocols.
- •Implement robust biosecurity and vaccination programs for donkeys and mules, particularly in resource-limited settings where these animals are most prevalent and disease surveillance is weakest.
- •Maintain heightened awareness of zoonotic viral disease risks when working with donkey and mule populations, especially in developing countries where human-animal contact is close and sanitary conditions may be poor.
Key Findings
- •Donkeys and mules represent approximately 50% of the global domestic equine herd but remain understudied compared to horses despite their economic and social importance.
- •Most infectious disease research focuses on horses, leaving significant knowledge gaps about viral disease susceptibility and manifestation in donkeys and mules.
- •Some equine viruses can cross species barriers to affect humans, presenting public health risks that warrant greater surveillance in neglected donkey and mule populations.
- •Physiological differences between equine species are often overlooked when treating donkeys and mules, potentially compromising disease management and prevention strategies.