Selenium and Vitamin E Concentrations in a Healthy Donkey Population in Central Italy.
Authors: Bazzano Marilena, McLean Amy, Tesei Beniamino, Gallina Elisa, Laus Fulvio
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Selenium and Vitamin E in Healthy Donkeys Selenium and vitamin E function as critical antioxidants in equine metabolism, yet donkeys—despite their widespread use as working and productive animals—lack established reference ranges for these micronutrients, leaving practitioners without clear guidance on deficiency risk. Researchers in Central Italy measured plasma concentrations of both micronutrients across 37 healthy donkeys stratified by age, sex, and reproductive status (foals, weanlings/yearlings, non-pregnant females, pregnant females, and adult males), establishing baseline values for a previously under-characterised population. Selenium levels ranged from 0.02–0.14 μg/mL, significantly lower than equine reference ranges and suggesting donkeys may have genuinely lower requirements than horses; vitamin E concentrations spanned 3.29–12.99 μmol/L, with foals displaying substantially reduced levels compared to adults. These findings challenge the assumption that standard equine micronutrient thresholds apply directly to donkeys and indicate that supplementation protocols developed for horses may be inappropriate for donkeys, potentially leading to either unnecessary over-supplementation or, conversely, failure to identify true deficiency states. Practitioners should recognise these donkey-specific reference ranges when interpreting blood work and tailoring nutritional management, particularly for young stock and pregnant mares where physiological demands differ markedly from baseline values.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Donkey owners and veterinarians should not use equine reference ranges for selenium and vitamin E assessment; donkey-specific values are lower and indicate potential species differences in nutritional requirements
- •Young donkeys (foals) show lower vitamin E concentrations than adults, warranting attention to micronutrient supplementation during growth phases
- •Establishing breed-specific reference ranges for donkeys can improve early detection and prevention of deficiency-related neurologic and muscular complications
Key Findings
- •Selenium concentrations in healthy donkeys range from 0.02-0.14 µg/mL, significantly lower than recommended ranges for horses (P = 0.001 between foals and adult males)
- •Plasma vitamin E levels in donkeys range from 3.29-12.99 µmol/L, with foals showing lower concentrations than adults
- •Donkeys may have lower selenium requirements than horses, suggesting species-specific reference ranges are needed