Ultrasound measurements of croup fat thickness and liver echogenicity as indicators for lipomobilization in donkeys (Equus Africanus asinus) with fasting-induced hyperlipidemia.
Authors: Mahmoud Abeer Abd El-Wares, Elsayed Hanan Kamal, Hussein Hussein Awad
Journal: BMC veterinary research
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Ultrasound as a Diagnostic Tool for Lipomobilisation in Donkeys Donkeys are particularly susceptible to hyperlipidaemia when they stop eating, yet current diagnostic approaches rely heavily on blood work that may not reflect metabolic changes in real time. Researchers in this 2025 study explored whether ultrasound imaging of croup fat thickness (CFT) and liver echogenicity could serve as practical, non-invasive indicators of lipomobilisation during fasting-induced hyperlipidaemia, comparing 20 fasted donkeys against five controls over a ten-day period (four days of fasting followed by six days of refeeding). The ultrasonographic measurements revealed progressive changes in both CFT and liver appearance as lipids mobilised during the fasting phase, with specific alterations in echogenicity patterns that correlated with metabolic disruption. For equine professionals managing at-risk donkeys—particularly those with appetite loss due to dental disease, gastric ulcers, or transport stress—these findings suggest that bedside ultrasound could provide rapid assessment of metabolic state and lipomobilisation severity without waiting for laboratory results. Incorporating CFT and liver ultrasound screening into your clinical or management protocols could help identify which donkeys require aggressive nutritional intervention or hospitalised care, potentially improving outcomes in this metabolically vulnerable species.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Portable ultrasound can be used as a non-invasive field tool to monitor fat mobilization and liver changes in donkeys at risk of hyperlipidemia, particularly those showing reduced appetite
- •Regular monitoring of croup fat thickness and liver echogenicity may help identify donkeys entering metabolic crisis before clinical signs become severe
- •Donkey owners and practitioners should consider ultrasound assessment as part of routine monitoring in animals with inappetence to catch hyperlipidemia early
Key Findings
- •Ultrasound measurement of croup fat thickness and liver echogenicity can serve as diagnostic indicators for lipomobilization in donkeys with fasting-induced hyperlipidemia
- •Study compared 20 fasting donkeys to 5 control donkeys over a 10-day period with 4-day fasting and 6-day post-fasting stages
- •Changes in CFT and liver echogenicity correlate with lipid metabolism disturbances in donkeys experiencing inappetence or anorexia