Comparative analysis of haematological, biochemical and nutritional parameters of Dezhou donkey with healthy and weak foals (Equus asinus)

The study was conducted to compare the haematological, biochemical and nutritional parameters between healthy foals (HF) and weak foals (WF, malformation, lameness and drooping ears), and between the corresponding female donkeys to provide a reference for the assessment of healthy status. A total of 34 donkeys with HF (DHF) and 34 with WF (DWF) were selected. Compared to HF, WF had higher leukocyte, neutrophil, platelets (PLT) and the percentage of neutrophil, and their corresponding female donkeys showed the similar tendency; WF had lower birth weight and body measurements. The concentrations of serum urea, total protein, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, β-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA) and non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) were increased in WF compared with HF, whereas serum glucose (GLU) was decreased. The concentrations of serum urea, total protein, AST, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), BHBA, NEFA, calcium and phosphorus were increased in DWF compared with DHF, whereas serum albumin (ALB), GLU, kalium, chromium, iron, manganese, lead and zinc were decreased. The hair concentrations of minerals had the same tendency as well, but calcium concentration of hair was opposite. There were significant correlations of kalium, copper, iron and zinc contents between serum and hair. In plasma, the contents of threonine, glutamic acid, alanine, arginine in DWF were greater than DHF, whereas valine content was lower. In conclusion, there were significant differences in some haematological, biochemical and nutritional parameters, which suggested that the malnutrition of the corresponding female donkeys was probably responsible for malformation, lameness and drooping ears of foals.Highlights Weak foals (WF) had higher leukocyte and neutrophil count, platelets (PLT) and the percentage of neutrophil than healthy foals (HF), and their corresponding female donkeys showed the similar tendency. WF had higher concentrations than HF in serum urea, total protein, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), β-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA), non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA), but had lower concentration in serum glucose (GLU), and their corresponding female donkeys showed the similar tendency. Donkeys with WF had higher concentrations of threonine, glutamic acid, alanine, arginine in plasma than donkeys with HF, but lower concentrations of valine in plasma and some mineral elements in serum and hair.