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Appropriate hematological reference intervals mitigate the risk of unnecessary investigations and failures on disease diagnosis. Species, breed, environment, handling, and physiologic stage could influence hematological variables. In this context, there is a lack of hematological reference intervals for Pêga donkeys, an important Brazilian asinine breed. This study aimed to establish hematological reference values for Pêga donkeys and determine the influence of age and sex on these variables. The complete blood count of samples collected from 110 animals, 79 females and 31 males was performed, maintained under field conditions. The animals under 1 year old (three females and five males) were monitored by collections on the day of birth, on 3rd, 7th, 15th day, and monthly until 12 months of life, while the other donkeys were sampled once. There were differences in several variables analyzed, confirming the requirement of different reference intervals according to age group and sex. Moreover, differences among the values obtained and those of previous studies show a breed influence on the hematological variables of donkeys. For Pêga breed donkeys, animal's age and sex influence most of the hematological variables. This study can be useful in the clinical routine and serve as basis to other scientific researches related to Pêga donkeys.

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ABSTRACT:In this study sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) was used to evaluate the influence of age and sex on serum proteins in 110 Pega donkeys, 79 females and 31 males, classified into three age groups (under one year -eight animals; one to three years -33 animals and over three years old -69 animals). SDS-PAGE allowed identification of 10 serum proteins, some with unknown functions. No age-related differences were observed (P > 0.05) for haptoglobin, α 1 -acid glycoprotein and 23 kDa molecular weight protein (MWP 23 ) and no sex-related differences (P > 0.05) for immunoglobulin A, albumin, MWP 23 and haptoglobin. With advancing age, immunoglobulin A levels decreased (P < 0.001), whereas immunoglobulin G levels increased (P < 0.001). The youngest donkeys showed the lowest albumin (P < 0.001) and 33 kDa molecular weight protein (MWP 33 ) (P < 0.05) means. The oldest group showed a higher transferrin mean (P < 0.05) than the youngest one. Animals between one and three years had the highest mean (P < 0.001) for 138 kDa molecular weight protein (MWP 138 ). Animals over three years showed higher ceruloplasmin levels (P < 0.05) than the one-to-three year old group. Males showed greater means of MWP 138 (P < 0.05), ceruloplasmin (P < 0.05), α 1 -acid glycoprotein (P < 0.001) and MWP 33 (P < 0.01). Females had higher transferrin (P < 0.001) and immunoglobulin G (P < 0.001) concentrations. Sex and age influenced the levels of the majority of proteins in the serum profile of Pega donkeys, including some acute phase proteins. Our results differ from those of previous studies in the effects of breed and environmental factors on some of the measured variables.

This study describes a one-stage rumenostomy technique with placement of permanent flexible silicone cannula, performed in seven Santa Inês ewes used in a research on ruminal acidosis for six months. The surgical procedure proved to be easy to perform, with few postoperative complications and effective to carry out the ruminal fluid sampling during the period of study.