Augusto Carluccio

A deeper understanding of the donkey’s reproductive strategy is essential to improve reproductive efficiency in this species. In the jenny’s uterus, sperm selection relies on the post-insemination endometrial reaction, characterized by the influx of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs), which form extracellular traps (NETs) that capture spermatozoa. Of these, some are liberated through the action of a deoxyribonuclease (DNase) present in the seminal plasma. This study aimed to develop an in vitro model to evaluate the effects of NETs and DNase action on donkey sperm viability and motility. For this purpose, donkey ejaculates were collected, PMNs were isolated from the jenny’s blood and free spermatozoa were selected using a Silica gel filtration (EquiPure^®, EP, Nidacon International AB, Mölndal, Sweden) to form five experimental groups: control (semen), SPZ-PMN, SPZ-PMN-DNase, SPZ-PMN-EP, SPZ-PMN-DNase-EP. Sperm viability and motility were assessed in all experimental groups using eosin-nigrosin staining and CASA sperm analysis system, respectively, at 1, 2 and 3 h of incubation. Sperm viability remained stable in the groups containing PMN, while it significantly (p < 0.05) decreased in the control group, suggesting a protective effect of PMN on sperm viability. Regarding kinetic parameters, spermatozoa initially captured by NETs and later liberated by DNase exhibited higher velocity (VCL, VSL, VAP), linearity (LIN), straightness (STR) and oscillation (WOB). These changes in sperm motility may be related to the physiological changes occurring before sperm capacitation. This study can improve the understanding of the unique reproductive strategy of donkeys and could be useful to improve in vitro sperm capacitation and embryo production.

The Abruzzo (AB) donkey is a mountain-adapted Italian population listed as a genetic resource at risk of extinction (census ≈ 600 animals; no studbook). We aimed to provide the first comprehensive morphometric description of the breed and to compare it with the Martina Franca (MF) donkey, its main progenitor. Sixty-nine adult donkeys (56 females, 13 males) from six farms were measured in 2024. Twenty-three linear traits plus body weight and body condition score were recorded three times by a single operator. Descriptive statistics, Welch’s t-test or Mann–Whitney U test with Benjamini–Hochberg correction, PCA and LDA with leave-one-out cross-validation were performed in R; comparison with MF was based on published summary statistics. Coefficients of variation for the three studbook-admission parameters were ≤0.10 in both sexes. Sixteen of 26 traits showed significant sex dimorphism, with the largest effect sizes for rump height, medial canthal distance and wither height. LDA correctly classified 94% of animals by sex. AB females were significantly smaller than MF in 22 of 23 shared traits but had a wider thorax (p = 0.012). The sexual dimorphism observed in the Abruzzo donkey is male-biased and predominantly size-based, with a minor and well-localised shape component in the head region. Males are significantly larger than females for all axial measurements (wither height A: +6.5 cm, +5.3%; rump height B: +6.4 cm, +5.0%; trunk length D: +12.1 cm, +9.5%), for thoracic circumference (M: +7.1 cm, +5.0%), for body weight (+49.9 kg, +20.6%) and for the main head traits (CM: +4.3 cm, +20.0%; G: +3.6 cm, +12.5%; H: +1.3 cm, +11.1%; E: +2.0 cm, +3.8%); no trait shows a significant female bias after BH-FDR correction. The AB donkey shows a uniform mesomorphic phenotype, smaller and stockier than MF, supporting the establishment of an official studbook.

Background/Objectives: Opioids are widely used for perioperative analgesia in small animal practice; however, their administration is associated with dose-dependent adverse effects, regulatory restrictions, and increasing stewardship concerns. Evidence supporting opioid-free anesthesia protocols in cats remains limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the analgesic efficacy of a dexmedetomidine constant rate infusion as part of an opioid-free anesthetic protocol in cats undergoing ovariectomy, as well as to determine its effect on intraoperative opioid requirements. Methods: This prospective, randomized clinical trial included forty healthy female cats (mean age 1.9 ± 0.7 years; mean body weight 3.5 ± 0.6 kg; body condition score 5 [range 4–5]/9) undergoing elective ovariectomy. Cats were randomly assigned to receive either a dexmedetomidine constant rate infusion (CRI) at 1 mcg kg⁻¹ h⁻¹ (GR-E) or a control protocol without dexmedetomidine CRI (GR-C). Anesthesia was induced and maintained using standardized protocols in both groups. Intraoperative fentanyl (5 mcg kg⁻¹ IV) was administered as rescue analgesia when two of three physiological parameters (heart rate, respiratory rate, mean arterial pressure) increased by ≥20% compared to the previous recorded value. Cardiovascular and respiratory variables, rescue opioid requirements, and recovery quality were recorded. Results: The requirement for rescue analgesia was significantly lower in GR-E (4/20; 20%) compared to GR-C (13/20; 65%) (p = 0.0097). Cats receiving dexmedetomidine showed greater intraoperative cardiovascular stability during ovarian pedicle manipulation. No clinically relevant adverse effects were observed. Recovery was smooth in all cats, and all resumed feeding within eight hours postoperatively. Conclusions: A low-dose dexmedetomidine CRI effectively reduced intraoperative opioid requirements during feline ovariectomy while maintaining physiological stability and satisfactory recovery. This opioid-free anesthetic protocol represents a safe and clinically applicable alternative in settings where opioid use is restricted or limited.

Sonoelastography is a rapid and non-invasive ultrasound-based technique to assess tissue elasticity. Interest in this technique’s application in veterinary medicine is progressively increasing, with preliminary reports also available to assess canine testicular parenchyma abnormalities. Since elastographic techniques are different and it is of paramount importance to standardize procedures, this work aimed to compare two different elastographic techniques, SE and 2D SWE, on the same testes and compare the data with the current literature. Thirty healthy canine testes were included, and complete B-mode, color and power Doppler examinations were performed on each one. SE was performed qualitatively through an elastogram evaluation and semiquantitatively comparing the parenchyma with peripheral skin. 2D SWE was performed and m/s measurements were taken. Each measurement was collected in the cranial, middle and caudal portions, considering the sections above and below the mediastinum separately. The healthy testes appeared to be intermediate in stiffness with differences in the various portions for SE and expressed a mean value from 1.3 m/s to 1.4 m/s for 2D SWE, consistent with the previous literature. Considering the technical specifics of the software for the two elastography methods, both of them are valuable in assessing canine testis stiffness and are potentially clinically appliable.

In Equids, undetected twin pregnancy represents the most important cause of abortion and is also associated with high neonatal mortality rates. Therefore, the detection and management of twin pregnancies is pivotal to allow the continuation of single pregnancies. Although pre-fixation manual crushing of one embryo is the most common management of twin pregnancies, and the impact of natural reduction has been reported in mares, very little is known about donkeys. The present study aimed to report results on the natural reduction occurrence and post-fixation manual crushing management of twin pregnancies in the Martina Franca donkey breed. Methods: Twenty-five twin pregnancies were detected at 11–13 days after ovulation. At 16 days after ovulation, twin pregnancies were classified as unilateral or bilateral and left untreated. The occurrence of natural reduction of one embryo was assessed at 20–21 days after ovulation, and post-fixation manual crushing of one embryo was performed in those cases in which natural reduction did not occur. The pregnancy rate at 28 days after ovulation and live foal rate were recorded. Result: Sixteen out of 25 twin pregnancies were unilateral and nine bilateral. At 20–21 days after ovulation, the natural reduction of one embryo occurred in 87.5% of the unilateral and in none of the bilateral twin pregnancies. The remaining twin pregnancies were treated by post-fixation manual crushing of one embryo. The 28-days-after-ovulation single embryo pregnancy rate was 93.8% for unilateral twin pregnancies and 88.9% for bilateral twin pregnancies, with an overall pregnancy rate of 92%. The live foal rate was 87%. Conclusions: The success rate of natural reduction within 20–21 days after ovulation, the 28-days-after-ovulation pregnancy rate, and the live foal rate suggest that waiting for the natural reduction of one embryo and choosing the post-fixation manual crushing of one embryo could be considered as an alternative to traditional early pre-fixation manual crushing in the Martina Franca donkey breed.

In veterinary medicine, the use of loco-regional anesthesia techniques is increasing. The Quadratus Lumborum block (QL) is an interfascial loco-regional technique that involves the release of local anesthetic (LA) between the Quadratus Lumborum and the Small Psoas (Pm) muscle. The study aims to evaluate the effect of the QL block on reducing the total amount of opioids in dogs undergoing pre-scrotal orchiectomy. A group of 36 dogs was enrolled in a randomized blinded study. The animals were divided into two groups: 18 in the experimental group (QL) and 18 in the control group (C). The QL group received 0.4 mL kg⁻¹ of ropivacaine 0.5% for each hemiabdomen (total amount of 3 mg kg⁻¹ of ropivacaine, 1.5 mg kg⁻¹ per side). The C group was brought into the operating room (OR) after receiving the same clipping as the QL group. In the intraoperative period, opioid consumption in the QL group was significantly lower than in the C group. No differences were found in the post-operative phase. No side effects were reported when performing the QL technique. The QL block performed at the level of L6 appears to be a valid approach to reducing opioid use in dogs undergoing orchidectomy with a pre-scrotal surgical approach.

Good sperm production is a notable requirement for subjects intended for reproduction, particularly in endangered species, and it has been demonstrated that in horse stallions, this is correlated to testicular volume. The present study, which involved Martina Franca jacks, aimed to determine whether, also in this endangered breed, there is a correlation between the total sperm number (TSN) and testicular volume. Testes were measured with both ultrasound and a caliper. Testicular volume was calculated using two different formulas: one representing the volume of an ellipsoid and one developed to describe round-shaped testicles. The average sperm concentration was 380.14 ± 254.58 × 10⁶/mL, while the average TSN was 16.34 ± 7.76 × 10⁹. Our findings evidenced a significant correlation (r > 0.75; p < 0.05) only between sperm production and the volume calculated with the formula V (cm³) = 33.57 × H − 56.57 for round-shaped testes. Moreover, significance was evidenced only for data obtained with ultrasound (VTs-us 315.03 ± 25.83 cm³) but not with caliper. In conclusion, testicular volume can be suggestive of good fertility in Martina Franca jacks; thus, this parameter could be considered when selecting breeding animals.

Canine prostatic serum esterase (CPSE) is considered a useful tool to identify prostate disorders in dogs, with increasing interest in ultrasound (US)‐based sonoelastography to non‐invasively detect prostate disorders. Since no report is available about a possible correlation between these diagnostic tools, we aimed to investigate a possible correlation between strain elastography (SE) and 2D‐shear wave elastography (SWE) and CPSE. Twenty‐one dogs were included and, on each animal, CPSE was evaluated followed by a complete US examination and SE and 2D‐SWE application. Healthy dogs were identified based on the CPSE results. All the dogs included were characterized by normal CPSE values (<52.3 ng/mL) and normal US prostate appearance. The prostate was characterized by intermediate stiffness with SE (pattern III – 84.7% for the left lobe and 79.27% for the right lobe) and softer than the abdominal wall (SR 0.6 for the left lobe and 0.56 for the right lobe), with low values for both m/s and kilopascals (kPa) for 2D‐SWE, pointing that the healthy tissue is not hard. 2D‐SWE results were, respectively, 13.51 ± 5.55 kPa and 2.31 ± 0.42 m/s for the left lobe and 18.05 ± 6.47 kPa and 2.39 ± 0.43 m/s for the right lobe. The significant difference between the right and left measurements expressed with kPa, not evidenced with m/s, can be considered indicative of m/s as the most reliable measurement to be considered regarding the prostate parenchyma. Even though no linear correlation was detected between CPSE and elastography values, these preliminary results evidence that the healthy prostates were characterized by a similar elastographic pattern, thus pointing that these techniques can be potentially useful to be applied in case of prostatic disorders to improve the accuracy of the final diagnosis in a non‐invasive way.

Owner complaints of estrus-related behavior in mares are a common cause of referral for laparoscopic ovariectomy. Granulosa cell tumors are a common neoplastic condition affecting the equine ovary, causing behavioral changes at rest and reduced performance. The reported success rate of ovariectomy in treating behavioral disorders is 64–86%. The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the long-term follow-up of laparoscopic ovariectomy in mares in our case series, focusing on the owner’s perspective of the behavior of the mares after surgery. In addition, the histopathological features of the removed ovaries were investigated. The clinical records of mares that underwent laparoscopic ovariectomy between 2015 and 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. Owners complaining of poor behavior were interviewed about the main behavioral problem leading to referral and its eventual resolution after surgery. Eleven mares were included. The most common complaints were increased sensitivity on both flanks (10/11, 91%) and general riding problems (9/11, 82%). In 5/11 cases (45%), both ovaries were removed by laparoscopic ovariectomy. Histopathologic findings consistent with GCT/GTCT were found in five out of six examined ovaries (five granulosa theca cell tumors, GTCT). According to owner interviews, the scores assigned to each behavior improved significantly after surgery, regardless of histological findings. Although many factors can influence the behavior of horses, granulosa cell tumors (GCTs) proved to be a common cause and, as reported by the owners, ovariectomy resulted in improvement or complete resolution of the abnormal behavior.