Comparison of haematological changes and strongyle faecal egg counts in donkeys in Kiambu district of Kenya

Abstract

Haematological data were obtained through analysis of blood samples taken from sixteen donkeys randomly selected from a donkey population in Kiambu District, Kenya. Nine out of sixteen of the donkeys examined were anaemic, with low RBC counts (ranging between 3.2 - 4.18 x 106/ml) and low Hb concentrations (ranging between 6.6 - 9.7 gm%). Seven out of nine of these donkeys in addition, had relatively low PCV values (18% - 28.7%). The epg counts in the anaemic donkeys ranged between 0 and 3100. The total protein levels in all the sixteen donkeys were slightly elevated. The differential leucocyte counts were within the normal range in twelve out of sixteen donkeys. Two donkeys had leucocytosis, with WBC counts ranging between 18.6 and 24.8, and epg counts ranging between 100 and 200.