A case of steatitis and myonecrosis in a donkey foal

Authors: Nuttall WO, Dixon RJ, Carthew DA
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 31, Issue 4, pp 62-63, Apr 1983
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Donkey, General, Horse, Livestock
Subject Terms: Fat/lipids, Disease/defect, Muscle/myology, Pathology, Selenium, Trace elements, Vitamins
Article class: Correspondence

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Abstract: Steatitis with myonecrosis has been reported in donkey foals in the United Kingdom and without myonecrosis in Australia. This is the first report of steatitis and myonecrosis in donkeys in New Zealand although a similar condition has been found in thoroughbred foals. The affected donkey foal was from a property which over the previous three years had lost eight of nine foals born to five mares. Deaths occurred before the foals were four weeks old. This 3-week-old foal was presented comatose with a subnormal temperature, an elevated respiratory rate and diarrhoea. Blood samples for haematology, biochemistry and chemistry were taken before euthanasia. The haemogram showed a marked leucocytosis (29.7 x 10⁹/1) due to a neutrophilia with a severe shift to the left that included 2% promyelocytes, typical of a severe inflammatory process. Creatine phosphokinase (1714 IU), aspartate animotransferase (965 IU) and blood urea (22.7 m mol/l) were elevated in comparison with values for horses, and were indicative of a myopathy and decreased renal perfusion. Necropsy revealed that the majority of fat deposits were firm and nodular, yet were normal in colour. The adipose tissues involved included the subperitoneal fat of the abdominal wall, perirenal and omental fat, and the mediastinal deposits in the thorax. Other abnormalities included an ulcerative oesophagitis…

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