Prevalence of Wound and Associated Risk Factors in Working Donkeys in and Around Wolaita Sodo Town, Southern Ethiopia

A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2015 - September 2016 to determine the prevalence wound and associated risk factors in donkeys in and around Wolaita Sodo town, Southern Ethiopia. A total of 400 working donkeys were examined of which, 172 (43.0%) were affected by wound. The prevalence of wound vary significantly among sex, age categories and body condition score of animals. Higher prevalence of wound was recorded in male animals 101(47.2%) and female ones 71(38.2%). This difference between both sexes showed statistically significant difference (p = 0.013). The study has showed that a significantly higher prevalence of wound was recorded in old donkeys 75(46.6%, ) followed by adults 89(44.1%) and young 8(21.6%). There is statically different (p = 0.001) among age groups. The highest rate was recorded in donkeys with poor body condition 149(45.8%) followed by those with good body conditions 23 (31.1%). Statistically significant variation (p = 0.000) was recorded among body condition scores. The highest distributions of wound is found in prescapular region (8.2%) followed by mixed (6.7%), back (5.5%), hind limb (5%), neck (3.8%), chest (3%), fore limb (2.8%), shoulder (2.3%), and head (2.2%). Donkey wounds were found commonly distributed on the prescapular and back region. significant number abrasion wounds (24.5%), lacerative wound (8.7%), puncture wound (6.8%) and incise wound (3%) in donkeys were reported in this study. The highest prevalence of wound was caused by improper harnessing (6.9%) followed by biting (12%), injury by horn (5%), infectious diseases (4.7%), over load (3.7%), unknown (2.3%), and falling (1.8%). Generally, this study has figured out wound as a major health problem of working donkeys in and around Wolaita Sodo town and hence, a comprehensive equine health programs should be implemented in order to alleviate the prevailing problem.