Table 1.

Gastrointestinal parasites of donkeys

Organ	Parasites	Comments
Stomach	Gasterophilus spp Habronema spp Draschia megastoma	Their significance in relation to gastric ulcer syndrome is unclear. May be more relevant in working animals with malnutrition
Small intestine	Parascaris equorum	Adult donkeys do not seem to share the level of immunity demonstrated by horses and ponies, particularly in the case of immunocompromised working donkeys. Foals and heavily infested adult donkeys are at risk of ileal impaction and intestinal rupture in extreme cases
Ileocecal junction	Anoplocephala perfoliata	Rarely found among the UK herd at The Donkey Sanctuary, but higher infestation is found in working donkeys. Clinical signs of heavy burdens are similar to horses
Large intestine	Strongyle spp	S vulgaris and other large strongyles are rarely found in donkeys in developed countries owing to management and anthelmintic use, but are highly prevalent in the developing world and should be a differential for chronic and acute colic Cyathostomins (small strongyles) are common in both nonworking and working donkey populations. Encysted cyathostomes are a major cause of acute and chronic disease in the United Kingdom
Liver	F hepatica	Liver fluke is emerging as a potential cause of liver pathologic condition in the United Kingdom
Rectum	Oxyuris equi	Pinworm infestations appear to be on the increase in areas of the United Kingdom and perhaps in other countries and may be a significant cause of perianal discomfort
	Gasterophilus spp	Heavy infestations are associated with rectal prolapse in working donkey populations