Haematological and oxidative stress parameters in donkeys naturally infected with gastrointestinal strongyles

Abstract

While horses have attracted considerable research attention for strongyle infections, donkeys—which outnumber horses in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa—remain comparatively neglected in parasitological research. This research investigated haematological alterations and oxidative stress markers in 40 working donkeys naturally infected with gastrointestinal strongyles in peri-urban areas around Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Animals were grouped by faecal egg count (FEC) into uninfected controls (n = 12, FEC = 0), light infection (n = 15, FEC 200-800 EPG), and heavy infection (n = 13, FEC > 800 EPG). Heavily infected donkeys showed significant anaemia (PCV 24.6 ± 3.2% vs 34.8 ± 2.9% in controls, p < 0.001), leucocytosis (WBC 14.3 ± 2.1 vs 9.4 ± 1.6 × 10³/µL, p < 0.001), and marked eosinophilia (16.2 ± 3.8% vs 3.8 ± 1.4%). Serum malondialdehyde (MDA) was elevated (6.84 ± 1.12 vs 3.21 ± 0.74 nmol/mL, p < 0.001) while superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities were depressed. Cyathostomum spp. and Strongylus vulgaris were the dominant species identified. These findings confirm that strongyle burdens induce both haematological compromise and systemic oxidative stress in Ethiopian working donkeys.