23/06/2025
I'm so proud to say that In 2005 Turning Pointe Donkey Rescue's founder Sharon Windsor and board member Dr. Judy Marteniuk were involved in the discovery, research and co-authoring and article (with others) on Besnoitiosis.
ATTENTION - ALL DONKEY OWNERS: This is the season when the disease know as Besnoitiosis can rapidly spread through a herd of donkeys. Biting insects such as mosquitoes and biting flies can infect one donkey after another in your herd. Be aware that bringing home a new donkey that has the disease can result in your whole herd being systematically infected, and there is no effective cure at this time. I urge all donkey breeders/keepers to be on the lookout for any of the known symptoms as this disease is prevalent in the US.
The following is information on Besnoitiosis:
• Besnoitiosis in donkeys is a parasitic disease caused by the protozoan parasite Besnoitia spp., specifically Besnoitia bennetti. It primarily affects the skin, causing a miliary dermatitis characterized by small, white bumps or cysts, according to UF/IFAS EDIS. The skin around the muzzle, nostrils, ears, genitalia, and inner thigh is most commonly affected.
The disease is characterized by tiny white bumps or cysts on the skin, often in specific areas like the muzzle, nostrils, ears, genitalia, and inner thigh. Other symptoms can include hair loss, thickening, and crusting of affected skin, as well as internal cysts. Some donkeys may experience weight loss, while others appear healthy. A notable symptom is the presence of "scleral pearls," which are cysts near the eye.
Diagnosis is currently performed using a skin biopsy to identify Besnoitia cysts.
Preventative measures include regular examination for lesions, testing suspected cases with skin biopsies, and potentially avoiding donkeys from known infected herds. Good sanitation and fly control may also help.
Presently, there is no known effective treatment for equine besnoitiosis. Experimental treatments have yielded inconsistent results.
The long-term outlook and the potential for natural recovery are currently unknown. Some infected donkeys may remain affected for long periods without improvement.
Besnoitiosis is considered an emerging infectious disease in donkeys in the United States, requiring further research into its life cycle, transmission, and potential treatments. For more details, consult the UF/IFAS EDIS website.
Thank you American Donkey Association for sharing this information.
