Changes

The common bacterial skin diseases include:

The common bacterial skin diseases include:

* [[Actinomycetes#Dermatophilus congolensis|Dermatophilosis]]

* [[Dermatophilus congolensis|Dermatophilosis]]

* [[Staphylococcus spp.|Staphylococcal]] /[[Streptococci|Streptococcal]] farunculosis or folliculitis

* [[Staphylococcus spp.|Staphylococcal]] /[[Streptococci|Streptococcal]] farunculosis or folliculitis

* [[Pathogenic anaerobic non-spore-forming Gram-negative bacteria#Fusobacterium necrophorum|Fusobacterial]] dermatitis and infectious coronitis (F. necrophorum)

* [[Pathogenic anaerobic non-spore-forming Gram-negative bacteria#Fusobacterium necrophorum|Fusobacterial]] dermatitis and infectious coronitis (F. necrophorum)

==Clinical signs==

==Clinical signs==

Differentiation of the bacterial disease present can be possible on clinical grounds alone, but this is far more problematic in donkeys than in horses. Clinically it is sometimes possible to make an informed guess as to the bacteria involved. A '''very painful lesion will usually involve [[Staphylococcus spp.|staphylococci]]''', while a '''moderately painful lesion with closely adherent scabs will be [[Streptococci|streptococcal]]'''. [[Staphylococcus spp.|'''Staphylococcal''']] skin infection usually has '''less exudate''' whereas [[Actinomycetes#Dermatophilus congolensis|'''Dermatophilus]] may have more'''.

Differentiation of the bacterial disease present can be possible on clinical grounds alone, but this is far more problematic in donkeys than in horses. Clinically it is sometimes possible to make an informed guess as to the bacteria involved. A '''very painful lesion will usually involve [[Staphylococcus spp.|staphylococci]]''', while a '''moderately painful lesion with closely adherent scabs will be [[Streptococci|streptococcal]]'''. [[Staphylococcus spp.|'''Staphylococcal''']] skin infection usually has '''less exudate''' whereas [[Dermatophilus congolensis|'''Dermatophilus]] may have more'''.

The distribution of the lesions associated with the various specific infections tends to be an indicator of the diagnosis. Thus, [[Actinomycetes#Dermatophilus congolensis|'''dermatophilosis''']] affects areas most likely to be subjected to '''repeated damping''' (i.e. the back and the upper sides, head and lower neck) and produces '''focal lesions''' with a '''loose scab''' that leaves a '''florid, red base''' after removal. The lesion is characterised more by '''irritation''' than pain, but none of the bacterial skin diseases is usually pruritic.  

The distribution of the lesions associated with the various specific infections tends to be an indicator of the diagnosis. Thus, [[Dermatophilus congolensis|'''dermatophilosis''']] affects areas most likely to be subjected to '''repeated damping''' (i.e. the back and the upper sides, head and lower neck) and produces '''focal lesions''' with a '''loose scab''' that leaves a '''florid, red base''' after removal. The lesion is characterised more by '''irritation''' than pain, but none of the bacterial skin diseases is usually pruritic.  

[[Staphylococcus spp.|'''Staphylococcal]] infection''' tends to be '''more diffuse '''(less well defined) in distribution but infection in donkeys is common on the '''limbs and the face'''.

[[Staphylococcus spp.|'''Staphylococcal]] infection''' tends to be '''more diffuse '''(less well defined) in distribution but infection in donkeys is common on the '''limbs and the face'''.

==Diagnosis==

==Diagnosis==

A major problem with bacterial skin disease is the '''tendency to mixed infections'''. Thus, a primary early [[Streptococci|streptococcal]] or [[Actinomycetes#Dermatophilus congolensis|dermatophilus]] infection can be complicated rapidly by [[Staphylococcus spp.|staphylococcal]] overgrowth. Furthermore, secondary [[Fungal Skin Infections - Donkey|fungal infection]] can also complicate the diagnosis. Little is known about the normal bacterial flora of the donkey and it is certainly true that

A major problem with bacterial skin disease is the '''tendency to mixed infections'''. Thus, a primary early [[Streptococci|streptococcal]] or [[Dermatophilus congolensis|dermatophilus]] infection can be complicated rapidly by [[Staphylococcus spp.|staphylococcal]] overgrowth. Furthermore, secondary [[Fungal Skin Infections - Donkey|fungal infection]] can also complicate the diagnosis. Little is known about the normal bacterial flora of the donkey and it is certainly true that

donkeys maintained in hot dry climates have less skin infection problems than those in damp, cool environments.

donkeys maintained in hot dry climates have less skin infection problems than those in damp, cool environments.