Genetic and Developmental Skin Disorders - Donkey
There are few genetic diseases of the donkey, although there are a few anecdotal reports of epitheliogenesis imperfecta with large areas of skin missing from birth. The author has encountered one case of a skin fragility condition that resembled the cutaneous asthenia (Ehrloss-Danloss Syndrome) that is encountered in other species (including the horse). In this case the skin was easily traumatised and healed very slowly with large scar formation. The healed skin remained even more fragile and the repeated damage that resulted simply from normal handling was not considered to be acceptable and the donkey was destroyed at seven months of age.
The donkey is liable also to dermoid cyst formation and these typically are found in low numbers along the dorsal midline and around the base of the ears. They contain hair and adnexal structures in a chaotic arrangement. Surgical excision is curative and they do not appear to recur.
References
- Knottenbelt, D. (2008) Skin disorders In Svendsen, E.D., Duncan, J. and Hadrill, D. (2008) The Professional Handbook of the Donkey, 4th edition, Whittet Books, Chapter 8
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