Therapeutic trial on clinical cases of impactive and spasmodic colic in donkeys in Gondar, northwest Ethiopia

G. Fentaye Kassa1, Kindiye Amenu2 and Birhanu Ayele3

1School of Veterinary Medicine, Wolaita Sodo University, 2Livestock and fishery office, Simada woreda, Amhara regional state, 3College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia

fantaye12@gmail.com, 0000-0003-4860-244

Abstract

The therapeutic trial was conducted from December 2018 to May 2019 to compare the therapeutic efficacy of different drug regimens in the treatment of impactive and spasmodic colic in donkeys in Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia. Twenty-five purposively selected donkeys were used in this study. Ten of them were showing suspected clinical signs of impactive colic and the remaining ten were with spasmodic colic. The rest five donkeys were kept as control group. For this trial, each disease category was again grouped into two subgroups. The first sub-group in group A with suspected spasmodic colic was treated with ivermectin and, the second sub-group was treated with fenbendazole. Similarly, the first subgroup in group B with suspected impactive colic was treated with meloxicam and the remaining sub-group was treated with hyoscine butyl bromide. Most vital parameters were recorded before and after treatment of colicky donkeys. Feces and blood samples were collected and examined pre and post treatment from each donkey. Donkeys treated with ivermectin subcutaneously have 97.3% fecal egg count reduction percentage, whereas donkeys treated with fenbendazole orally have fecal egg count reduction percentage of 79.85%. Donkeys treated with meloxicam, most of the clinical signs disappear within 24 hours of time after treatment. Subcutaneous administration of ivermectin was effective for the treatment of spasmodic colic due to Strongyle infestation in donkeys. Therefore, field veterinarians should practice subcutaneous administration of ivermectin and intramuscular administration of meloxicam for effective treatment of spasmodic and impactive colic in donkeys, respectively.

Keywords: Colic, Donkey, Ethiopia, Gondar, Therapeutic trial

المحاولات العلاجیة لحالات المغص الانحشاری والتشنجی السریریة فی الحمیر فی منطقة جوندار، شمال غرب أثیوبیا

جی فنتای کاسا، کیندای امینیو و برهانو ایلی

1مدرسة الطب البیطری، جامعة ولایة سودا، 2مکتب الثروة الحیوانیة والسمکیة، سیمادا وریدا، الولایة الاقیلیمیة لامهارا، 3کلیة الطب البیطری وعلوم الحیوان، جامعة جوندار، جوندار، اثیوبیا

الخلاصة

تم أجراء المحاولة العلاجیة للفترة الممتدة من کانون الأول 2018 إلى شهر إیار 2019، لمقارنة الکفاءة العلاجیة لمختلف الأسالیب العلاجیة فی معالجة حالات المغص التشنجی والانحشاری فی الحمیر فی منطقة جوندار، شمال غرب أثیوبیا. تم استخدام خمس وعشرون حمارا فی هذه الدراسة. عشرة من الحمیر المشمولة بالدراسة کانت تظهر علامات سریریة مشکوک بها للمغص الانحشاری أما الحیوانات العشرة الأخرى کانت تظهر علامات المغص التشنجی، أما بقیة الحمیر الخمسة تم معاملتها کمجموعة سیطرة. لهذه المحاولة العلاجیة، کل مجموعة تم تقسیمها أیضا إلى مجموعتین ثانویتین. المجموعة الثانویة الأولى هی المجموعة أ التی تضم الحالات المشکوک بها بالمغص التشنجی تم علاجها بعقار الایفرمکتین، أما المجموعة الثانویة الثانیة تم علاجها بعقار الفنبندازول. وبطریقة مماثلة للسابق، المجموعة الثانویة الأولى هی المجموعة ب والتی تضم الحالات المشکوک بها بالمغص الانحشاری تم علاجها بعقار ملیوکسیکام أما بقیة الحیوانات بالمجموعة الثانویة الأخرى فتم علاجها بعقار هایوسین بیوتایل برومید. معظم المعاییر الحیویة للحیوانات المصابة تم تسجیلها قبل وبعد العلاج. عینات من الدم والبراز تم جمعها وبعد ذلک تم فحصها قبل وبعد العلاج لکل حیوان. مجموعة الحمیر المعالجة بعقار الایفرمکتین تحت الجلد لدیها نسبة 97.3% انخفاض بعدد البیوض فی البراز، بینما الحمیر المعالجة بعقار الفنبندازول عن طریق الفم لدیها نسبة 79.85% انخفاض بعدد البیوض فی البراز. الحمیر المعالجة بعقار ملیوکسیکام معظم العلامات السریریة اختفت ضمن 24 ساعة من الوقت بعد بدء العلاج. إعطاء عقار الایفرمکتین تحت الجلد کان فعال لعلاج حالات المغص التشنجی الناتجة عن إصابة الحمیر بطفیلیات السترولنجلس. لذلک ینصح الأطباء البیطرین بممارسة استخدام عقار الایفرمکتین عن طریق الحقن تحت الجلد وإعطاء عقار ملیوکسیکام عن طریق الحقن العضلی وذلک کعلاج فعال لحالات المغص التشنجی والانحشاری فی الحمیر وعلى التوالی.

 Introduction

Ethiopia has the largest population of equines in Africa and the second in the world next to China, by possessing 2.16 million horses, 8.44 million donkeys and 0.41 million mules (1). The country possesses approximately half of Africa’s equine population with 37% donkeys, 58% horses and 46% mules; from these donkey’s population of the Amhara region contributes 36.1% of the donkey’s population of the country (2). In Ethiopiaone of the major health problems of donkey is colic, which commonly affects the health and welfare of donkeys. Research has demonstrated that the causes are complex and there are conflicting views about the impact of individual risk factors. Some risk factors were well documented, like change in feed, poor deworming practice, heavy work and Strongylus infestations (3,4). Distension, enteritis, simple and complete obstruction are major causes of colic in equine, but lesion involving gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is the most important cause of colic (5). Clinical signs of impactive and spasmodic colic were varied with severity of pain. The most common clinical signs include pawing, lying down, rolling, sweating, stretching out, straining to defecate, abdominal distension, loss of appetite, dullness, and decreased or increased the number of bowel movements (6). The heart and respiratory rate may also become elevated; the mucous membranes may become white, purple blue or red (7). Diagnosis of impactive and spasmodic colic is based on history, physical and laboratory examination. Impactive colic was diagnosed by its clinical sings like over distention of abdomen, rolling, lying down, dullness, anorexia, decreased intestinal motility and distended colon, caecum and pelvic flexure with dry feces, while spasmodic colic is diagnosed by fecal examination and physical observation of clinical signs like frequent rolling, an audible gut sound heard from the distance and increase intestinal motility (4).The key principles in the treatment of equines colic are pain management, decompression of the gastrointestinal tract, correcting biochemical and fluid imbalances, stimulation and maintenance of gastrointestinal motility and reduction of GIT inflammation (8). In Ethiopia, the prevalence of colic in donkey is not known, but one study was conducted in and around Bishoftu town reported a prevalence of 9.1%. Among the colic types, impactive colic was high in donkeys, which accounts for 78.6% in Bishoftu town (4). Even though, there is a study conducted in Bishoftu of Ethiopia about colic but, the study has limitations because it is not including hematological, electrolyte and/or biochemical alteration associated with the cases of colic. Besides, field veterinarians and clinicians also use ivermectin for the treatment of spasmodic colic in equine due to parasitic infections orally out of the manufacturer’s instruction.

Therefore, this study was carried out with the objectives of comparing the therapeutic efficacy of different drug regimens in the treatment of impactive and spasmodic colic in donkeys and evaluating the physiological, hematological, electrolyte and biochemical changes in cases of colic.

Materials and methods

Description of the Study Area

The study was conducted at the University of Gondar veterinary clinic in Gondar town is located 740 km from Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia. It is located at the latitude of 12°36’ North and longitude of 27°2’ East with an altitude of 1800-2500 meters above sea level. The annual temperature of the area is 12.3-30°C with an average temperature of 19.7°C. The livestock population of Central Gondar zone was estimated to be1, 556,549 cattle, 438,879 sheep, 599,289 goats, 8,789 horses, 3,351 mules, 227,871 donkeys, 2,032,905 poultry and 102,564 beehives (9).

Study animals

The study animals were twenty-five colic and non-colic donkeys that are presented to clinics

Study design

A therapeutic clinical trial was conducted, to compare the efficacy of different drug regimens on donkeys suffering from spasmodic and impactive colic.

Sampling method and sample size

Donkeys showing suspected clinical signs of colic based on physical and systemic diagnostic techniques were selected purposively. A total of 25 donkeys were included in this study, from these 20 (11 females and males) colicky and 5 healthy donkeys age of 4-20 years and have a body weight of 100-225 kg were used.

Data collection methods

History of study donkeys like feed intake and type of feed, change in feed, treatment, types of work, defecation status, and flank distention were recorded beside that, clinical and physical examinations (gait and posture, mucus membrane color and CRT) of donkey and all donkeys with the history of dietary change and/or showing suspected clinical signs of colic were further assessed for deep physical and laboratory examinations. Complete auscultation of thorax and abdomen were performed to detect any abnormality in the heart, lung and intestine by using stethoscope. Also, rectal palpation and naso-gastric intubation were performed to detect the cause of colic. The hydration statuses of donkeys were assessed through skin tenting test and CRT before and after treatment.

Laboratory examination

Fecal, hematological, electrolyte and biochemical laboratory examinations were performed before and after treatment. For fecal examination, the fecal sample was taken from the rectum using arm length glove to detect gastrointestinal nematodes egg by direct fecal smear and floatation techniques. Fecal samples were collected from 10 donkeys with spasmodic colic at 0 (before treatment), 3, 7, 14, and 21 days’ post-treatment. Then, anthelmintic efficacy was estimated using a fecal egg count reduction test (FECR) for helminths burden. McMaster techniques were used to count the egg per gram (EPG) of feces to estimate the parasitic loads, which was done in the University of Gondar parasitology laboratory. The arithmetic mean of the egg count and helminthes burden was calculated to determine the mean percentage reduction within each sub-group, according to the following formula FECR%= (pre treatment-post treatment)/pre treatment*100 (10). The blood samples were collected before and after 48 hours of treatment for hematological, electrolyte and biochemical examinations. A total of 14 ml of blood were collected from each colicky and control donkeys aseptically from jugular vein puncture by using plain and EDTA coated vacutainer tube. Then haematological values were immediately analysed by using automatic haematology analyzer (Automatic Full Digital cell counter, Beckman, USA). Total Leukocyte Count (TLC), Total Erythrocytes Count (TEC), Hemoglobin estimation (Hgb%), Mean Cell Volume (MCV), Mean Cell Hemoglobin (MCH), Mean Cell Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC) and packed cell volume (PCV) were analyzed in the University of Gondar Specialized Teaching Hospital Hematology laboratory.

For biochemical and electrolyte analysis, the blood collected in plain vacutainer was allowed to clot at room temperature so separate serum. The serum sample was subjected to a standard biochemical analysis by using Spectrophotometer (Cecil 2031, Cambridge, England) to determine serum concentration of Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), triglycerides (TG), glucose and total protein content. Serum concentrations of sodium (Na⁺), potassium (K⁺), calcium (Ca⁺) and Chloride (Cl^-) were measured by Auto Electrolyte Analyser (Roch 986 UVL, Japan) at the University of Gondar Specialized Teaching Hospital.

Table 1: Animal grouping and drug regimens

 No.= number of donkeys, IV= intravenous, IM= intramuscular, PO= per oral

The effectiveness of the drugs was compared based on of time of clinical signs disappearance after treatment, change in physiological parameters, FECR%, electrolyte, biochemical and hematological values change after treatment.

Statistical analyses

All data collected during the study period has been checked, coded and entered into Microsoft Excel and analyzed by using STATA software Version 14 and presented in forms of descriptive statistics. The before and after treatment data and between treatment groups were analyzed using t-test and P

Results

All physiological parameters were increased in all colic cases as compared to mean of control group donkeys but, the mean rectal temperature of donkeys with spasmodic and impactive colic were lower than the mean of the control group (Table 2).

Table 2: The mean of physiological parameters of treatment as compared to control group

*M±SD Values are mean ± standard deviation.

In the present study, the mean of hematological values was recorded in both treatment and control groups before treatment as presented in table 3. There was no difference in mean of TEC and MCH between colic cases and control group. The mean of TLC and PCV were increased in colic cases as compared to mean of control group, whereas mean of MCV, MCHC and Hgb decreased in colic cases as compared to mean of control group before treatment.

Table 3: The mean of hematological values of treatment as compared to control group

* M±SD Values are mean ± standard deviation.

There were no mean differences in serum concentration of AST, ALP, TG, Na⁺ and Cl^- between colicky donkeys and control group as shown in table 4. The mean of total protein was increased, but there were decreased in mean serum concentration of glucose, calcium and potassium in colicky donkeys as compared to the control group before treatment.

Table 4: The mean of biochemical and electrolyte parameters of treatment as compared to control group

* M±SD Values are mean ± standard deviation.

The mean of fecal egg count reduction percentage and the range of Egg Per Gram (EPG) of feces for spasmodic colic donkey from day zero to day 21. The mean fecal egg count reduction percentage of sub-group I and sub-group II were 97.30% and 79.85% with 95% lower confidence limit of 90.04% and 55.23% were found in current study, respectively (Table 4).

Table 5: Arithmetic mean fecal egg counts (mean±SD) and reduction percentage of spasmodic colic groups

MFECR% = Mean fecal egg count reduction percentage, 95%LCL = 95% lower confidence limit, 95%UCL = upper confidence limit

Meloxicam has better efficacy than hyoscine butyl bromide in the treatment of impactive colic donkeys since Most of the clinical signs of colic were treated by meloxicam (subgroup I) were disappear within 24 hours of time, whereas colicky donkeys treated with hyoscine butyl bromide (subgroup II) most of the clinical sings were disappear within 48 hours of time.

Table 6: Time of clinical signs disappearance after treatment of impactive colicky donkeys

There was statistically significant mean difference in heart rate, capillary refill time and rectal temperature in impactive colic between sub-groups after treatment, but there was no statistically significant difference in mean pulse and respiratory rate were found in the current finding as shown in table 7.

Table 7: Mean difference of physiological parameters between sub-groups after treatment (12 hrs)

The mean difference of total leukocytes counts and PCV values between subgroups were statistically significant, but total erythrocytes, MCV, MCH, MCHC, and Hb values were not statistically between subgroups. The mean differences of serum concentration of glucose, Ca⁺ and K⁺ values of Sub-group I and Sub-group II were statistically significant, but there were no statistically significant mean differences of other biochemical and electrolyte values (Table 8).

Table 8: Mean difference of hematological, electrolyte and biochemical values of impactive groups after 48 hours’ treatment

Discussion

In the current study, the mean physiological parameter values of heart rate, pulse rate, respiratory rate and capillary refill time were elevated in donkeys with spasmodic and impactive colic (colicky donkeys) as compared to the control donkeys even with working donkeys of Ethiopia as previously reported by Lemma and Moges (11). This finding is in line with the previous study in Ethiopia (12,4) and abroad (13). These physiological parameters elevations might be due to pain, violent struggle and over distension of abdomen, which had a direct effect on the cardiopulmonary system. The mean rectal temperature was decreased in colicky donkeys as compared to the control group, which is in agreement with the previous report in colicky donkeys (14). This might be due to loss of fluid and electrolyte from vascular space to the gastrointestinal lumen to hydrate the impacted ingesta and which in turn the resulting shock (15).

The observed values of mean PCV and TLC were elevated in colicky donkeys as compared to control donkeys. The elevation in PCV value in the present finding is in agreement with report of Worku et al. (12) and Tadesse et al. (4); this might be due to dehydration and increasing concentration of circulating blood cells to compensate the fluid loss in donkeys with impactive colic (4). The elevation of total leukocyte count in the current finding is in line with the findings of Baher et al. (14), and might be due to stress in colicky donkeys, which results in liberation of corticosteroid to increased levels in the blood that prevent migration of white blood cells (majorly neutrophils) out of the blood vessels to the tissues (16).

In the present study, the mean serum concentrations of AST, ALP, TG, Na⁺ and Cl^- in colicky donkeys were close to control groups and this finding is similar to other studies done earlier on colicky donkeys and horses (14,17). Other studies have reported hyperkalaemia, hypochloraemia and hyponatremia in colicky horses (18,19), which disagree with the present findings. The mean serum calcium concentration was decreased in colicky donkeys as compared to the control donkeys. This result is in line with other studies in colicky donkeys and horses (14,17,19).

 The reason for decreased serum concentration of calcium in colic cases might be due to functional disturbances of the small intestine, which reduces the absorption of calcium (20). The mean serum concentration of potassium was decreased in the colicky donkeys as compared to control donkeys in the current findings. This result is in agreement with the findings of other previous studies in the colicky horse (21,22). This might be a colicky donkey’s altered feed intake and absorption and loss potassium through sweating and saliva. The elevation of the mean total plasma protein in colicky donkeys as compared to the control group in the present finding is in line with the previous report by Baher et al. (14). This could be due to dehydration developed during impactive colic as a result of fluid loss.

In the current study, subcutaneous administrations of ivermectin to donkeys were shown 97.30% mean fecal egg count reduction percentage with 95% lower confidence limit of 90.04%. This indicates that, parasites were susceptible for ivermectin and similar studies were also reported by (25,26). Donkeys treated with fenbendazole were shown 79.85% mean fecal egg count reduction percentage with 95% lower confidence limit of 55.23%. This finding is in agreement with the previous report of Seyoum et al. (23) in horses. The Strongylus nematodes develop resistance tofenbendazolein donkeys observed in the current study. This might be due to improper deworming practice of fenbendazole by owners and the first-pass effect drug as described by Gokbulut et al. (24). On the other hand, administration of meloxicam showed better efficacy than hyoscine butyl bromide in the treatment of impactive colic. Donkeys with impactive colic were treated with meloxicam become active and relieved from dullness, abdominal pain (rolling) and distension within 24 hours of time after treatment. This finding is in agreement with reports of Regan et al. (25) in UK. The reduction in clinical parameters might be due to selective inhibition of cyclooxgenase 2 (COX2) by meloxicam, which was responsible for pathophysiological conditions beside that meloxicam has better gastrointestinal tolerability than other nonselective NSAIDs (26). Hyoscine butyl bromide was less effective in the treatment of impactive colic in donkeys as compared to meloxicam in the current study, which is in accordance with previous study on colic in horses (27).

In the present findings, there were statistically significant mean differences of the total leukocytes count, PCV, serum concentrations of glucose, calcium and potassium values between meloxicam treated and hyoscine butyl bromide treated groups. There is no other report to compare with the present findings. Hyoscine butyl bromide has a temporary inhibitory effect on intestinal motility, which might be undesirable in the treatment of impaction cases (15). The mean of total leukocytes count was close to the control group in meloxicam treated group. These reductions of TLC in meloxicam treated group were due to selective inhibition of Cox 2 and subsequent subsiding of inflammations (28). Moreover, as inflammation subsiding, blood circulation, intestinal motility and absorption returned normal subsequently. The mean serum concentrations of glucose become normal since the pain was relieved and the appetite of donkeys improved after treatment with meloxicam. The mean serum concentration of calcium and potassium were increased significantly after treatment of donkeys with meloxicam. This might be due to disappearances of clinical signs and the improvement of appetite, intestinal motility and absorption in donkeys (29) which results no extra loss of calcium and potassium after treatment of donkeys with meloxicam.

Conclusion

In colicky donkeys, the mean physiological parameters of heart rate, pulse rate and respiratory rate were increased, but the rectal temperature was decreased in the current study before administration of treatment. The mean values of total leukocyte count and packed cell volume were increased in colicky donkeys, whereas the mean values of MCV, MCHC and Hgb were decreased. Some biochemical and electrolyte values like glucose, calcium and potassium serum concentrations were decreased while the total protein was increased in donkeys with impactive and spasmodic colic. In general, intramuscular administration of meloxicam and subcutaneous administration of ivermectin was effective for the treatment of impactive and spasmodic colic in donkeys, respectively. Thus, meloxicam should be used by field veterinarians and clinicians since it is the most effective treatment of impactive colic in donkeys and subcutaneous administration of ivermectin should be practiced in the treatment of gastrointestinal nematodes in donkeys.

Conflict of interest

The authors of this article declared that there is no potential conflict of interest in the publication of this article

Acknowledgments

We would like to express our appreciation to Simada Woreda (Amhara regional state, Ethiopia) for funding the project.