Prevalence of skin wounds in working donkeys in Bukombe, Tanzania

Emma Rayner; Ilona Airikkala-Otter; Aswin Susheelan; Andrew Gibson; Richard Itaba; Thomas Mayani; Richard J Mellanby; Luke Gamble

doi:10.1136/vr.105399

Prevalence of skin wounds in working donkeys in Bukombe, Tanzania

Emma Rayner, Ilona Airikkala-Otter, Aswin Susheelan, Andrew Gibson, Richard Itaba, Thomas Mayani, Richard J Mellanby, Luke Gamble

Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Preventable wounds are a common welfare issue in working donkeys in many countries. In the Bukombe District of Tanzania, there are estimated to be 3000 working donkeys, used primarily to transport loads for direct income generation. For historical reasons, oxen-yoke carts are used; their design is inappropriate for donkeys and results in serious neck wounds. The project aim was to assess the prevalence and nature of wounds in working donkeys.

METHODS: In November 2018, 148 donkeys owned by 48 owners were examined, and data were collected.

RESULTS: The study revealed that one or more wounds were present in 56.1% of the population and yoke-related, dorsal neck wounds comprised 79.5% of these. These wounds ranged in surface area from 1 cm2 to 300 cm2. Clinically, 96.6% of all wound types were superficial and the majority of these (51.1%) were granulating.

CONCLUSION: These data will enable the future evaluation of targeted interventions aimed at reducing the prevalence of these specific wounds.

Original language	English
Journal	Veterinary Record
Early online date	25 Sep 2019
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.105399
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 25 Sep 2019

Access to Document

10.1136/vr.105399

Prevalence of skin wounds in working donkeys in Bukombe ...Accepted author manuscript, 52.1 KBLicence: Creative Commons: Attribution Non-Commercial (CC-BY-NC)

Cite this

@article{6b662c682afc4aa9963319aac81cc180,

title = "Prevalence of skin wounds in working donkeys in Bukombe, Tanzania",

abstract = "BACKGROUND: Preventable wounds are a common welfare issue in working donkeys in many countries. In the Bukombe District of Tanzania, there are estimated to be 3000 working donkeys, used primarily to transport loads for direct income generation. For historical reasons, oxen-yoke carts are used; their design is inappropriate for donkeys and results in serious neck wounds. The project aim was to assess the prevalence and nature of wounds in working donkeys.METHODS: In November 2018, 148 donkeys owned by 48 owners were examined, and data were collected.RESULTS: The study revealed that one or more wounds were present in 56.1% of the population and yoke-related, dorsal neck wounds comprised 79.5% of these. These wounds ranged in surface area from 1 cm2 to 300 cm2. Clinically, 96.6% of all wound types were superficial and the majority of these (51.1%) were granulating.CONCLUSION: These data will enable the future evaluation of targeted interventions aimed at reducing the prevalence of these specific wounds.",

author = "Emma Rayner and Ilona Airikkala-Otter and Aswin Susheelan and Andrew Gibson and Richard Itaba and Thomas Mayani and Mellanby, {Richard J} and Luke Gamble",

note = "{\textcopyright} British Veterinary Association 2019. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.",

year = "2019",

month = sep,

day = "25",

doi = "10.1136/vr.105399",

language = "English",

journal = "Veterinary Record",

issn = "0042-4900",

publisher = "BMJ Publishing Group",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Prevalence of skin wounds in working donkeys in Bukombe, Tanzania

AU - Rayner, Emma

AU - Airikkala-Otter, Ilona

AU - Susheelan, Aswin

AU - Gibson, Andrew

AU - Itaba, Richard

AU - Mayani, Thomas

AU - Mellanby, Richard J

AU - Gamble, Luke

PY - 2019/9/25

Y1 - 2019/9/25

N2 - BACKGROUND: Preventable wounds are a common welfare issue in working donkeys in many countries. In the Bukombe District of Tanzania, there are estimated to be 3000 working donkeys, used primarily to transport loads for direct income generation. For historical reasons, oxen-yoke carts are used; their design is inappropriate for donkeys and results in serious neck wounds. The project aim was to assess the prevalence and nature of wounds in working donkeys.METHODS: In November 2018, 148 donkeys owned by 48 owners were examined, and data were collected.RESULTS: The study revealed that one or more wounds were present in 56.1% of the population and yoke-related, dorsal neck wounds comprised 79.5% of these. These wounds ranged in surface area from 1 cm2 to 300 cm2. Clinically, 96.6% of all wound types were superficial and the majority of these (51.1%) were granulating.CONCLUSION: These data will enable the future evaluation of targeted interventions aimed at reducing the prevalence of these specific wounds.

AB - BACKGROUND: Preventable wounds are a common welfare issue in working donkeys in many countries. In the Bukombe District of Tanzania, there are estimated to be 3000 working donkeys, used primarily to transport loads for direct income generation. For historical reasons, oxen-yoke carts are used; their design is inappropriate for donkeys and results in serious neck wounds. The project aim was to assess the prevalence and nature of wounds in working donkeys.METHODS: In November 2018, 148 donkeys owned by 48 owners were examined, and data were collected.RESULTS: The study revealed that one or more wounds were present in 56.1% of the population and yoke-related, dorsal neck wounds comprised 79.5% of these. These wounds ranged in surface area from 1 cm2 to 300 cm2. Clinically, 96.6% of all wound types were superficial and the majority of these (51.1%) were granulating.CONCLUSION: These data will enable the future evaluation of targeted interventions aimed at reducing the prevalence of these specific wounds.

U2 - 10.1136/vr.105399

DO - 10.1136/vr.105399

M3 - Article

C2 - 31554710

JO - Veterinary Record

JF - Veterinary Record

SN - 0042-4900

ER -

Prevalence of skin wounds in working donkeys in Bukombe, Tanzania

Abstract

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this