Observations of the Hematological, Hematochemical, and Electrophoretic Parameters in Lactating Donkeys (Equus asinus)

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 92 female donkeys. Blood samples were collected, and the following parameters were evaluated: red blood cell (RBC), white blood cell, neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte (MON), eosinophil (EOS) and basophil counts, hemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), and the hematocrit (HCT), alanine aminotransferase (GPT), aspartate aminotransferase, total proteins, γ-glutamyl-transferase, alkaline phosphatase, creatinine, urea, and blood urea nitrogen and electrophoretic profile. Age (≥2 years ≤ 3 [very young], >3 years ≤ 10 [young], and >10 years ≤ 17 [adult]) and lactation (early lactation [≤3 months], middle [>3 months ≤ 6], and late lactation [>6 months]). Groups were independently analyzed using one-way analysis of variance or Kruskal-Wallis (post hoc test: Bonferroni's or Dunn's multiple test) tests; P was set as <.05. Very young animals had lower EOS than young and adult animals; in addition, they showed the highest MON and RBC and the lowest MCV and GPT; MCHC was lower in adult than that in the very young group; MCH was higher in the adult than that in the very young group; Alpha 2-globulin values were greater in young than those in very young animals; MCH was higher in the late lactation group than that in early lactation; alpha 1 and alpha 2-globulins showed a significant increase from the early to the late lactation period. Values reported herein could provide a useful clinical guide and represent a basis for further research into monitoring the health status of lactating donkeys.