# Both Season and Equid Type Affect Endogenous Adrenocorticotropic Hormone Concentrations in Healthy Donkeys, Mules and Hinnies in the United States

## TL;DR

This study found that ACTH levels in donkeys and hybrids vary by season and equid type, with donkeys having higher levels than hybrids during late summer and autumn.

## Contribution

The study provides new seasonal ACTH reference ranges for healthy donkeys and hybrids in the U.S., highlighting equid-specific and seasonal variations.

## Key findings

- ACTH concentrations peak from mid-August to October in all equid groups.
- Hybrids had consistently lower ACTH concentrations than donkey types across seasons.
- Seasonal ACTH variation is significant for diagnosing PPID in equids.

## Abstract

Donkeys, horses and their hybrid crosses are all susceptible to a degenerative condition called pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), or Cushing’s disease, as they age. Correctly diagnosing this disease typically involves recognizing the clinical signs and performing diagnostic testing. A common testing strategy involves measuring baseline plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) concentrations. This study aimed to characterize baseline plasma ACTH concentrations over the course of a year in healthy miniature donkeys, standard donkeys, and hybrids. Mean ACTH values were higher from mid-August through the end of October in all equid groups and both groups of donkeys tended to have higher baseline ACTH concentrations than the hybrids.

Baseline plasma ACTH concentrations are frequently utilized as part of the diagnostic evaluation of equids when PPID is suspected. Baseline ACTH can be impacted by many factors including time of year, i.e., ACTH has generally been found to be elevated during late summer through early autumn in the northern hemisphere. An understanding of ACTH concentrations in healthy equids over the course of a year is useful for the proper interpretation of concentrations in PPID-suspect animals. Previous studies assessing ACTH concentrations in healthy donkeys (Equus asinus) and hybrids (E. asinus × E. caballus) are limited, often utilizing very small numbers, equids from specific and limited geographical regions, limited timeframes or unspecified donkey types (miniature, standard, or mammoth). We aimed to characterize the seasonal variation in baseline ACTH concentrations in healthy miniature donkeys, standard donkeys and hybrids in the United States (US) and to compare those concentrations across these groups. Following outlier removal, 19 standard donkeys (from California (CA), Massachusetts (MA), New York (NY)), 14 miniature donkeys (CA and NY), and 28 hybrids (Texas (TX) and NY) were utilized for analysis. Samples were collected from each equid twice per month from June to November 2019 and once per month from December 2019 through May 2020. The mean ACTH concentration of all equids was higher from mid-August through the end of October compared to the rest of the year (being the highest in the second half of September with the mean (standard deviation) values of 109.6 (52.6), 134.6 (67.4), and 100.8 (189.6) in standard donkeys, miniature donkeys, and hybrids, respectively). Additionally, ACTH concentrations in hybrids were 23% (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 4–38%) and 51% (95% CI: 36–63%) lower than in standard and miniature donkeys, respectively, from mid-August through October. During the rest of the year, hybrids similarly showed 31% (95% CI: 16–43%) and 30% (95% CI: 15–42%) lower ACTH concentrations compared with standard and miniature donkeys, respectively.