PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS ON THE ANATOMICAL LINKS WITHIN THE DONKEY DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

Milivoje Urošević; Dejana Ćupić Miladinović; Panče Dameski; Ivana Nešić; Mimi Ristevski; Miloš Blagojević; Nikola Cukić; Milena Đorđević

doi:10.20544/hisj.2025.591

Authors

Milivoje Urošević Veterinary Medicine Academy, Serbian Veterinary Society. Center for Preservation of Indigenous Breeds, Belgrade - Zemun, Serbia
Dejana Ćupić Miladinović Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia
Panče Dameski Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University “St. Kliment Ohridski” - Bitola, North Macedonia
Ivana Nešić Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia
Mimi Ristevski Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University “St. Kliment Ohridski” - Bitola, North Macedonia
Miloš Blagojević Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia
Nikola Cukić Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia
Milena Đorđević Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Serbia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20544/hisj.2025.591

Keywords:

Donkey, Digestive Tract, Abdominal Organs, Stomach, Intestine

Abstract

The domestic donkey (Equus asinus) is descended from the African wild ass (Equus asinus africanus). In most developing countries, donkeys are used to carry goods and water, and to guard herds as livestock guardians. Little attention has been given to the anatomical structure and morphological characteristics of donkeys, and they have not been extensively studied. This study aims to contribute to a better understanding of a part of donkey anatomy. The length of the intestine from the stomach to the rectum was measured in 9 animals. The donkeys belong to the Balkan donkey group. Considerations for analysis could include the efficiency of nutrient absorption, the role these segments play in donkeys’ overall digestive process, and the variability observed across specimens.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

1. Barone, R. Anatomie comparée des mammifères domestiques. Splanchnologie I: Appareil digestif, appareil respiratoire [Comparative Anatomy of Domestic Mammals. Splanchnology I: Digestive System, Respiratory System]. 3rd ed. Paris: Vigot Frères, 1997.

2. Freund, L. "Därme" ["Intestines"]. Zeitschrift für Naturwissenschaften 65 (1917): 117-132.

3. Getty, R. Sisson and Grossman's Anatomy of the Domestic Animals. Vols. 1-2. 5th ed. Philadelphia: W. B. Saunders Company, 1975.

4. Jerbi, H., A. Rejeb, S. Erdogan, and W. Perez. "Anatomical and Morphometric Study of Gastrointestinal Tract of Donkey (Equus africanus asinus)." Journal of Morphological Sciences 31, no. 1 (2014): 18-22.

https://doi.org/10.4322/jms.ao055613

5. König, H. E., and H. C. Liebich. Veterinary Anatomy of Domestic Mammals: Textbook and Colour Atlas. 3rd ed. Stuttgart: Schattauer, 2007.

6. Li, M., S. Kang, Y. Zheng, J. Shao, H. Zhao, Y. An, G. Cao, Q. Li, X. Yue, and M. Yang. "Comparative Metabolomics Analysis of Donkey Colostrum and Mature Milk Using Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Tandem Chromatography Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry." Journal of Dairy Science 103, no. 1 (2020): 992-1001.

https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2019-17448

PMid:31677837

7. Li, X., I. Amadou, G. Y. Zhou, L. Y. Qian, J. L. Zhang, D. L. Wang, and X. R. Cheng. "Flavor Components Comparison Between the Neck Meat of Donkey, Swine, Bovine and Sheep." Food Science of Animal Resources 40 (2020): 1-25.

https://doi.org/10.5851/kosfa.2020.e30

PMid:32734261 PMCid:PMC7372983

8. Polidori, P., and S. Vincenzetti. Farm Management and Feeding Strategies for Donkey Milk Produktion. Agricultural Research, vol. 14. 2017. ISBN 978-1-53610-344-1.

9. Sikandar, A. "Morphophysiological Study of Gastrointestinal Tract of the Donkey (Equus asinus)." Equine Science (2020). https://doi.org/10.572/intechopen.92722.

https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.92722

10. Smith, D., and F. Burden. "Practical Donkey and Mule Nutrition." In Equine Applied and Clinical Nutrition, 304-16. 2013.

https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-7020-3422-0.00016-X

11. Smith, D., and S. Wood. "Donkey Nutrition." In The Professional Handbook of the Donkey. 4th ed. England: Whittet Books, 2008.

12. Thiemann, A., and R. Sullivan. "Gastrointestinal Disorders of Donkeys and Mules." Veterinary Clinics of North America: Equine Practice 35, no. 3 (2019): 419-32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cveq.2019.08.001.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cveq.2019.08.001

PMid:31587977 PMCid:PMC7126424

13. Wissdorf, H., H. Jerbi, and M. Meier-Schellersheim. Unterschiede in der Anatomie von Esel/Muli und Pferd [Differences in the Anatomy of Donkey/Mule and Horse]. Munich: Utzverlag, 2020.

14. Zhang, Z., Y. Wang, B. Huang, M. Zhu, and C. Wang. "The Fibrolytic Enzyme Profiles and the Composition of Fungal Communities in Donkey Cecum-Colon Ecosystem." Animals 12, no. 4 (2022): 412.

https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12040412

PMid:35203120 PMCid:PMC8868365