Reference Values for Hematological and Biochemical Parameters of Mixed Breed Donkeys (Equus asinus)

Hematological and biochemical profile of mixed breed donkeys are not yet available in literature. A complete Blood cell count and several biochemical parameters were evaluated on 189 mixed breed, healthy donkeys belonging to 4 different farms located in the same geographical area (Marche region, central Italy). Sex and age differences were also evaluated. No statistically significant differences between male and females were found. Red cells count decreased significantly with age. The same happened for total and direct bilirubin. On the contrary, MCV, MCH and eosinophil count increased with age. Lymphocytes count, mean corpuscular volume, red cell distribution width and total bilirubin in young subject (<2 years) resulted higher than value found in literature for donkeys. Among biochemical parameters, CPK, ALP and SDH decreased significantly with age. The differences found between the studied sample and those presented in other works, confirm the need for further investigations aimed to evaluate the influence of geographical, nutritional, managing and genetic factor on some laboratory values of donkeys and to provide the practitioner with appropriate tool for interpretation of metabolic change in this species.