Olorunfemi Moses Ayo-Opemipo, Binhambali Abdulhakeem, Sinkalu Victor Olusegun, Babashani Mohammed, Samuel Felix Uchenna, Ayo Joseph Olusegun
Department of Veterinary Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States of America.
PLoS One. 2025 Jan 31;20(1):e0313780. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0313780. eCollection 2025.
This study investigates the effects of seasonal variations on the erythrocyte osmotic fragility and vital parameters of donkeys Equus africanus asinus at the National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI) in Shika, Kaduna State, Nigeria. The research focused on two key periods: the hot-dry season (April) and the rainy season (July). Twelve donkeys were classified into three age groups: young (1-3 years), adult (4-6 years), and old (7-9 years). Blood samples were collected at six-hour intervals over a 24-hour period, while dry-bulb and wet-bulb temperatures were measured to compute the temperature-humidity index (THI). Vital parameters including rectal temperature, respiratory rate, and heart rate were also recorded. Results showed higher dry-bulb temperatures (DBT) during the hot-dry season, with the lowest DBT of 12°C at 00:00 h and the highest of 25.5°C at 18:00 h. Young donkeys exhibited the highest erythrocyte osmotic fragility during the hot-dry season, while old donkeys showed elevated fragility during the rainy season. Results also demonstrated that erythrocyte osmotic fragility varied significantly with age and season, with young donkeys exhibiting the highest fragility during the hot-dry season at a 0.3% NaCl concentration. However, old donkeys showed increased fragility during the rainy season, which shows the influence of both age and environmental conditions on erythrocyte stability. Also, rectal temperatures were higher in young donkeys during the hot-dry season compared to adults, while heart rates showed significant elevation across all age groups during the rainy season. Overall, this study elucidates the physiological adaptations of donkeys to seasonal thermal stress, providing critical insights into their health management and welfare in varying climatic conditions. Understanding these dynamics is essential for optimizing donkey husbandry practices, especially in regions facing climate variability. These findings contribute valuable knowledge to the field of veterinary physiology and highlight the necessity of tailored management strategies to mitigate the impact of seasonal stressors on animal health.
本研究调查了尼日利亚卡杜纳州希卡国家动物生产研究所（NAPRI）的非洲野驴（Equus africanus asinus）红细胞渗透脆性和生命体征参数的季节性变化影响。该研究聚焦于两个关键时期：炎热干燥季节（4月）和雨季（7月）。12头驴被分为三个年龄组：幼年（1 - 3岁）、成年（4 - 6岁）和老年（7 - 9岁）。在24小时内每隔6小时采集一次血样，同时测量干球温度和湿球温度以计算温湿度指数（THI）。还记录了包括直肠温度、呼吸频率和心率在内的生命体征参数。结果显示，炎热干燥季节的干球温度（DBT）较高，00:00时干球温度最低，为12°C，18:00时最高，为25.5°C。幼年驴在炎热干燥季节红细胞渗透脆性最高，而老年驴在雨季时脆性升高。结果还表明，红细胞渗透脆性随年龄和季节显著变化，幼年驴在炎热干燥季节0.3%氯化钠浓度下脆性最高。然而，老年驴在雨季时脆性增加，这表明年龄和环境条件对红细胞稳定性均有影响。此外，炎热干燥季节幼年驴的直肠温度高于成年驴，而雨季时所有年龄组的心率均显著升高。总体而言，本研究阐明了驴对季节性热应激的生理适应性，为不同气候条件下驴的健康管理和福利提供了关键见解。了解这些动态对于优化养驴实践至关重要，尤其是在面临气候变化的地区。这些发现为兽医生理学领域贡献了宝贵知识，并强调了制定针对性管理策略以减轻季节性应激源对动物健康影响的必要性。
