Prevalence and biodiversity of helminth parasites in donkeys from South Africa

Seven donkeys (Equus asinus) from North-West and Mpumalanga Provinces in South Africa were examined at necropsy. Quantitative samples were collected from the gastrointestinal tract for recovery of helminth parasites from the stomach, small intestine, cecum, ventral colon, dorsal colon, descending colon, and cranial mesenteric artery. Fifteen genera and 29 species of helminths were identified comprising 27 species of nematodes in the Ascarididae, Atractidae, Habronematidae, Onchocercidae, Oxyuridae, and Strongylidae; 1 species of cestode in the Anoplocephalidae; and 1 species of trematode in the Paramphistomatidae. In addition, 2 species of oestrid fly larvae in the Gastrophiliidae were identified. The most abundant group in number of species was the cyathostomes (small strongyles) and, of these, Cyathostomum montgomeryi, Cylicocyclus sp. (a), and Cylicostephanus minutus were the most numerous. The most prevalent cyathostomes were C. montgomeryi and Cylicocyclus sp. n. (a). Strongylus vulgaris was the most abundant and prevalent large strongyle species. The occurrence of small strongyle species and their prevalences in this study are compared with 3 other studies on donkeys in Africa.     

Parasitic helminths of the cecum and colon of equidae in Italy]

Intestinal helminths from coecum and colon were studied in 93 equidae including 40 horses, 36 donkeys and 17 mules. A total of 38 species, 36 nematodes and 2 cestodes, were identified as follows: 1) Triodontophorus serratus, 2) Triodontophorus brevicauda, 3) Strongylus equinus, 4) Strongylus edentatus, 5) Strongylus vulgaris, 6) Cyathostomum tetracanthum, 7) Cyathostomum coronatum, 8) Cyathostomum labiatum, 9) Cyathostomum labratum, 10) Cyathostomum alveatum, 11) Cyathostomum pateratum, 12) Cyathostomum catinatum, 13) Cyathostomum sagittatum, 14) Cylicodontophorus bicoronatus, 15) Cylicocyclus radiatus, 16) Cylicocyclus auriculatus, 17) Cylicocyclus elongatus, 18) Cylicocyclus nassatus, 19) Cylicocyclus insigne, 20) Cylicocyclus leptostomus, 21) Cylicostephanus calicatus, 22) Cylicostephanus poculatus, 23) Cylicostephanus minutus, 24) Cylicostephanus longibursatus, 25) Cylicostephanus hybridus, 26) Cylicostephanus goldi, 27) Cylicostephanus ornatus, 28) Cylicostephanus skrjabini, 29) Poteriostomum ratzii, 30) Gyalocephalus capitatus, 31) Parascaris equorum*, 32) Probstmayria vivipara, 33) Draschia megastoma*, 34) Habronema muscae*, 35) Habronema majus*, 36) Setaria equina*, 37) Anoplocephala perfoliata, 38) Paranoplocephala mamillana. The asterisked species are those not usually localized in the examined material. The most frequent parasites were found in all three hosts. Species 1, 4, 6, 9, 10, 12, 21, 22, 30 and 35 showed significant differences in prevalence between horses and donkeys, the mule generally having intermediate values. Multiple infections and total worm burden appear to decrease in older animals (> 15 years). Parasite associations occur mostly at random as expected from the values of the respective total prevalences. Some significant excesses on expected values were recorded but not significant deficits. The total worm burden increases with the number of parasite species and the increase appears to follow an exponential pattern.     

Detection and semi-quantification of Strongylus vulgaris DNA in equine faeces by real-time quantitative PCR

Strongylus vulgaris is an important strongyle nematode with high pathogenic potential infecting horses world-wide. Several decades of intensive anthelmintic use has virtually eliminated clinical disease caused by S. vulgaris, but has also caused high levels of anthelmintic resistance in equine small strongyle (cyathostomin) nematodes. Recommendations aimed at limiting the development of anthelmintic resistance by reducing treatment intensity raises a simultaneous demand for reliable and accurate diagnostic tools for detecting important parasitic pathogens. Presently, the only means available to differentiate among strongyle species in a faecal sample is by identifying individual L3 larvae following a two week coproculture procedure. The aim of the present study is to overcome this diagnostic obstacle by developing a fluorescence-based quantitative PCR assay capable of identifying S. vulgaris eggs in faecal samples from horses. Species-specific primers and a TaqMan probe were designed by alignment of published ribosomal DNA sequences of the second internal transcribed spacer of cyathostomin and Strongylus spp. nematodes. The assay was tested for specificity and optimized using genomic DNA extracted from identified male worms of Strongylus and cyathostomin species. In addition, eggs were collected from adult female worms and used to evaluate the quantitative potential of the assay. Statistically significant linear relationships were found between egg numbers and cycle of threshold (Ct) values. PCR results were unaffected by the presence of cyathostomin DNA in the sample and there was no indication of PCR inhibition by faecal sources. A field evaluation on faecal samples obtained from four Danish horse farms revealed a good agreement with the traditional larval culture (kappa-value=0.78), but with a significantly higher performance of the PCR assay. An association between Ct values and S. vulgaris larval counts was statistically significant. The present assay can reliably and semi-quantitatively detect minute quantities of S. vulgaris eggs in faecal samples.     

Transglutaminase activity in equine strongyles and its potential role in growth and development.

Transglutaminases (E.C. 2.3.3.13) are a family of Ca(2+)-dependent enzymes that stabilize protein structure by catalyzing the formation of isopeptide bonds. A novel form of transglutaminase has been identified and characterized that seem to play an important role in growth, development, and molting in adult and larval stages of filarial nematodes. The aim of this study was to identify the ubiquitous nature of this enzyme in other nematodes and to measure its significance to larval growth, molting, and development. For this purpose, equine Strongylus spp. were used. Activity of this enzyme was identified in extracts of larvae and adults of Strongylus vulgaris, S. edentatus, Parascaris equorum and Cylicocyclus insigne. The significance of transglutaminase in the early growth and development of Strongylus vulgaris, S. edentatus and S. equinus was tested by adding specific inhibitors, monodansylcadaverine (MDC) or cystamine (CS), to in vitro cultures of third (L3) and fourth stage larvae (L4). The viability, molting and growth of these nematode species were affected by both inhibitors. Cystamine promoted abnormal development of Strongylus edentatus L3, resulting in an aberrant expansion of the anterior end. Addition of these inhibitors to cultures of L4 also reduced growth of the three species. The results indicated that transglutaminase is present in a wide array of nematode parasites and may be important in growth and development of their larval stages.     

Epizoochory by large herbivores: merging data with models

The dispersal of plant seeds in the fur of large herbivores (epizoochory) is an important but complex long-distance dispersal mechanism. We developed a spatially explicit simulation model of epizoochorous seed dispersal, which was parameterized based on empirical studies of the movement and behaviour of donkeys, and the distribution, seed production, seed accessibility, seed adhesion, and seed retention on donkey fur of selected plant species in a coastal dune nature reserve in Flanders, Belgium. We compared predicted and observed seed numbers of the 14 plant species on donkey fur.

Modelled seed shadows indicate that for most species about half of all seeds dispersed by donkeys should travel a net distance of >100 m, and about 1% should travel >500 m within this more or less isodiametric 100 ha nature reserve. Seeds with longer retention times are expected to travel further than those with short retention times. Enlarging the reserve area had little impact on the forecasted dispersal distances.

Variation among plant species in the observed seed numbers found on donkey fur were well predicted by the model (R²=0.56, P=0.002), though the predictions relied on relatively crude estimates of seed production and accessibility to donkeys, indicating that more accurate estimates of these parameters are needed.

Our model confirms the important role of epizoochory in affecting long-distance seed dispersal, and provides a modelling framework for integrating the multiple components of the dispersal process.     

Evaluation of the specificity of five oligoprobes for identification of cyathostomin species from horses

Here, we report evaluation of five oligoprobes designed from intergenic spacer (IGS) region sequences for identification of cyathostomin species. Oligoprobes were designed for identification of Cylicocyclus ashworthi, Cylicocyclus nassatus, Cylicostephanus longibursatus, Cylicostephanus goldi and a fifth probe designed to identify all members of this tribe. PCR amplification of IGS DNA from 16 cyathostomin species allowed sequence comparison and identification of four putative species-specific probes. Southern blotting of amplified products from 16 species showed that all probes were species-specific. The fifth probe recognised all 16 cyathostomin species but did not bind to members of the genus Strongylus. Furthermore, these probes were used to identify individual infective L3, eggs and L4 indicating that they will be invaluable to furthering the study of the epidemiology and pathogenesis of these important equine nematodes.     

Strongylids (Nematoda: Strongylidae) of domestic horses in Ukraine: modern state of Fauna and structure of the parasite community

Species composition and structure of the strongylid community was studies on helminthological material collected from 162 domestic horses from 11 regions of Ukraine by the in vivo method. Animals were treated with anthelmintic drug "Univerm" (0.2% aversectin C, Russia). Faecal samples (200 g each) were collected from every horse at 24, 36, 48 and 60 hours after treatment; all nematodes expelled (90.851 specimens) were collected and identified. Thirty-three strongylid species from 12 genera (8 species of subfamily Strongylinae and 25--of Cyathostominae) were found in domestic horses in Ukraine. Cyathostominae dominated in the strongylid community; they were found in 100 % horses and composed 98.21% of community. "Core" of the strongylid community was composed by 7 cyathostome species. Decreasing of proportion of Strongylinae in the community for last 40 years was registered; strongylines were found in 37.6% of horses and composed 1.25% of community. Maximal prevalence was 20.98% (Strongylus vulgaris). Bray-Curtis cluster analysis revealed high similarity of strongylid communities in horses from various regions of Ukraine. Difference in general structure of strongylid communities of horses from different horse-keeping conditions was established. Horses from farms with stable-paddock keeping conditions had bimodal strongylid community structure; while horses from stable-pasture keeping conditions possessed multimodal community structure.     

Keratinophilic fungi on the hair of cows,donkeys, rabbits,cats, and dogs from the West Bank of Jordan

The mycoflora of hair of 111 cows, donkeys, rabbits, cats, and dogs were analysed and the frequency of occurrence and the relative importance value of the different fungal species isolated were calculated. Total numbers of species 56, 45, 48, 23, and 11 were recovered from cows, donkeys, rabbits, cats, and dogs respectively. The majority of the keratinophilic fungi isolated were either well-known mycotic agents or have been recovered from various animal and human lesions. These comprised 87.8%, 66.7%, 61.4%, 59.3%, and 55.2% of the hair mycoflora in cats, dogs, rabbis, cows, and donkeys respectively. Seven species of dermatophytes were isolated: Trichophyton mentagrophytes, T. verrucosum, Microsporum gypseum, M. nanum, T. ajelloi, and M. canis. Cats harboured the largest number of dermatophytes (5 species), followed by cows (4 spp), rabbits (3 spp), and donkeys and dogs (1 sp). The role of these animals in the persistence and transmission of pathogenic fungi is discussed.     

Prevalence and abundance of equine strongyles (Nematoda: Strongyloidea) in tropical Australia

A postmortem survey of 57 horses in tropical northern Queensland revealed 41 (89%) infected with intestinal strongyles. Thirty-five strongyle species (8 large strongyles and 27 small strongyles [Cyathostominae]) were recorded of which 9 species are reported from Australia for the first time. The 14 most prevalent small strongyles were Cyathostomum catinatum (in 76% of horses), Cyathostomum coronatum (65%), Cyathostomum pateratum (33%), Cyathostomum labiatum (30%), Cylicostephanus calicatus (70%), Cylicostephanus longibursatus (67%), Cylicostephanus goldi (43%), Cylicostephanus minutus (26%), Cylicocylus nassatus (67%), Cylicocyclus leptostomus (41%), Cylicocylus insigne (41%), Cylicocyclus radiatus (33%), Cylicocyclus brevicapsulates (22%), and Poteriostomum imperidentum (24%). The remaining cyathostomes were each found in less than 15% of horses. The 4 most common large strongyles were Triodontophorus serratus (30%), Strongylus vulgaris (28%), Strongylus equinus, and Strongylus edentatus (both 22%). The number of species of small strongyles per horse showed a marked variation (mean 10.3, range 2-21) but bore no relationship to either the total number of strongyles per horse, age, sex, and breed of horse, or season. Total number of strongyles per horse (mean 15,890, range 20-165,000) was less than in recent surveys in Europe and the U.S.A. Most horses had low worm burdens, whereas a very small number were heavily infected. Ninety-seven per cent of the total strongyle counts were small strongyles. Strongylus species contributed just over 1%. Small numbers of large strongyles per horse were usual with T. serratus (mean 570), S. vulgaris (mean 330), and S. equinus (mean 330) the most numerous.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Complementarity of epi- and endozoochory of plant seeds by free ranging donkeys

Epizoochory and endozoochory are well-recognized long-distance seed dispersal mechanisms, yet their relative importance has hardly been studied before. Here, epi- and endozoochory were compared on donkeys foraging in a species-rich 100 ha coastal dune ecosystem, through in vitro germination of zoochorous material obtained by fur brushing and dung collection. We identified 6675 seedlings of 66 plant species, covering 20% of the species recorded in the study area. Of the 66 species, only 16 occurred in both epi- and endozoochory samples, demonstrating the complementarity of both dispersal mechanisms. The species composition in the zoochory samples reflected a strong seasonality, and seedling numbers were partly correlated with species abundance in the study area. The non-zoochorously dispersed species in the study area differed from the zoochorous species in seed size and weight, plant height, life span, dispersal strategy and seedbank persistence. Dispersal-relevant plant traits were used to derive dispersal-functional plant types for all species in the study area. Epizoochory showed to be more specific than endozoochory and was associated with a more narrow range of dispersal-functional plant types.     

A survey in Louisiana of intestinal helminths of ponies with little exposure to anthelmintics

Ponies reared with minimal or no exposure to anthelmintics were surveyed for intestinal helminths in order to estimate prevalence and intensity of parasite populations unaltered by frequent exposure to anthelmintics. Thirty-seven mixed breed ponies of varying ages were examined. Thirty-four species of nematodes and 2 species of cestodes were found. Twenty-four of the nematode species (including 1 new species) were in the subfamily Cyathostominae (small strongyles). Eighty-seven percent of the total burden of adult small strongyles in the large intestine was composed of 10 species. By comparing the results of the present survey with those of recent surveys of horses from herds which had been subjected to treatments with anthelmintics, the effect of prolonged usage of anthelmintic treatment on the prevalence of individual species possibly can be estimated. The general ranking of the 10 most common cyathostome species was similar to those described in recent surveys of horses, suggesting that anthelmintic pressure does not affect the prevalence of most cyathostome species. The lack of anthelmintic treatment appeared not to affect prevalence rates for Anoplocephala perfoliata and Anoplocephala magna when compared to other studies. Conversely, prevalence rates for Strongylus spp., Triodontophorus spp., Craterostomum acuticaudatum, Oxyuris equi, and Parascaris equorum were higher than those reported for these species in recent studies of horses.     

Nematode Community Structure in Desert Soils: Nematode Recovery

The sugar-flotation-sieving (SFS) and Baermann-funnel (BF) methods were compared for nematode extraction efficiency. The SFS method recovered nematodes from more trophic groups whereas greater total numbers of individuals were recovered by BF. In a test to validate the efficiency of SFS, virtually 100% of the nematodes added to desert soil prior to extraction were recovered by four consecutive SFS washings of each soil sample. Estimations of nematode biomass in desert soils based on numbers of nematodes extracted by the two methods were similar unless there was large reserve of eggs in the soil. The biomass of nematodes from a Colorado desert soil was 0.9 g/m² as determined by both methods, whereas BF gave 0.17 g/m² for nematodes from a Mojave desert soil as compared to 0.9 g/m² with SFS.     

Parasites of the Central American tapir Tapirus bairdii (Perissodactyla: Tapiridae) in Chiapas, Mexico

We analyzed 19 samples of Baird's tapir feces from La Sepultura Biosphere Reserve, collected between March and July 1999. We also took samples directly from a male tapir captured at the Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve. Both reserves are in Chiapas, Mexico. We used five techniques: flotation, MacMaster, micrometric, Ritchie's sedimentation and Ferreira's quantitative. In addition, we collected ectoparasites from animals captured in both reserves and from a captive couple from Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas. These nematodes and protozoans were found: Agriostomun sp., Lacandoria sp., Neomurshidia sp., Trichostrongylus sp., Strongylus sp., Brachylumus sp, and an unidentified species of ancilostomaide. We also found Eimeria sp. and Balantidium coli, as well as the mites Dermacentor halli, Dermacentor latus, Amblyomma cajannense, Amblyomma coelebs, Amblyomma ovale, Anocentor nitens and Ixodes bicornis.     

A comparison of the intestinal helminth communities of Equidae in Southern Africa

The intestinal helminth communities of 8 horses, 12 donkeys, 21 Hartmann's mountain zebras, and 44 Burchell's zebras were compared using the original data from 6 studies in South Africa and Namibia. Necropsy and worm recovery techniques were comparable between the studies. Sixty helminth species (58 nematode, 1 cestode, and 1 trematode species) were recorded. There were significant differences in the helminth community structures of the 4 Equus species. The helminth communities of the 2 closely related zebra subspecies were most similar, and they jointly shared 7 helminth species with donkeys and only 1 with horses. Geographic variation and host-mixing contributed to the helminth species composition. Multiple confamilial species infections were the norm in the donkeys and zebra subspecies, and no single-species infection was recorded for the Strongylidae. Congeneric species were commonly recorded in 3 genera (Cyathostomum, Cylicocyclus, and Cylicostephanus). The shape of the occupancy frequency distributions for the donkeys and zebra subspecies was multimodal, with no clear satellite or core modes. Despite the presence of environmental variability and comparatively low parasite-host specificity, the phylogenetic signal within Equus helminth communities remains strong.     

Ixodid ticks on wild donkeys in a Mediterranean nature reserve (Asinara National Park): diversity and risk factors

The Sardinian coloured donkey Equus asinus (Perissodactyla: Equidae) and its albino colour morph represent the wildlife species most typical of the island of Asinara. This Mediterranean island represents a favourable context for ticks and tick‐borne diseases; however, knowledge of the tick fauna on Asinara is scarce. A total of 106 Sardinian donkeys were inspected for tick infestation from June to November 2015. All ticks found were collected, classified by stage and sex, and identified to species level. The level of infestation of each donkey was determined; both the overall tick infestation and infestations of each detected species were classified on a scale of 1–3 to give an infestation score (IS). Overall, 256 hard ticks were collected from 60 of 106 donkeys (56.6%). Rhipicephalus bursa, Haemaphysalis punctata and Hyalomma marginatum (all: Ixodida: Ixodidae) infested 26.4%, 28.3% and 6.6% of donkeys, respectively. Different variables affected the IS. With reference to overall tick infestation, a higher IS was observed in donkeys grazing on grassland and Mediterranean shrubland and in albino donkeys compared with coloured donkeys. The collected ticks included species involved in the transmission of pathogens to humans, which highlights the risks for public health in a tourist destination such as Asinara National Park.     

Meiobenthos of hypersaline tropical mangrove sediment in relation to spring tide inundation

Tropical intertidal sediments often contain porewater of relatively high salinity, especially in areas exposed to longer periods without seawater inundation and high evaporation. Such an area exists on the west coast of Zanzibar: a high intertidal mangrove plateau, flooded only during spring high tides, with sediment porewater salinities commonly exceeding 100 ppt. A field survey was conducted in this area to examine variations in population density of major meiofaunal taxa and the assemblage structure of free-living marine nematodes during spring-neap tidal cycles. Samples were taken on seven occasions for two months, starting from the end of the rainy season. Porewater salinity remained high throughout the sampling period, ranging from 89 to 160 ppt. Neither spring tide inundation nor heavy rains lowered the salinity markedly. The meiofauna consisted only of four taxa, present on all sampling occasions: nematodes, harpacticoid copepods, plathyhelminthes and chironomids. Densities in surface sediments (0–5 cm) were low compared to other mangrove areas, ranging from 271 to 656 animals 10 cm^-2 with nematodes dominant on all sampling occasions (58–87%). Density fluctuations could not be explained by the effects of spring tide inundation, but the meiofauna showed significant correlations with grain size and organic material. Despite the wide range of salinity, only the numbers of chironomids were negatively correlated with increased salinity. Nematode species diversity was low in all samples, although altogether 28 species were recorded in the samples. Four species occurred in more than 50% of the samples (Microlaimus sp. (100%), Metalinhomoeus sp. (76%), Daptonema sp.l (56%), Chromadorina sp. (56%)) while 12 species were found only in one or two samples. Multidimensional scaling ordination (MDS) of the nematode species abundance data indicated little effects of spring tide inundation on the assemblage structure, but rather a successive change from wet to dry season with a reduction in species diversity and increased numbers of the dominant nematode species Microlaimus sp.     

Com Yield Increases Relative to Nonfumigant Chemical Control of Nematodes

Corn yields were measured after application of nematicides in 16 experiments, mostly in medium-to-heavily textured soil, at 12 locations in Iowa during 1973-1976. The average maximum yield increase in plots treated with nematicides was 21% over yields in untreated plots. Yields were correlated negatively with nematode numbers or nematode biomass in nearly all comparisons. Correlations of nematode numbers in the soil with yield averaged -0.56 for Helicotylenchus pseudorobustus, -0.45 for Hoplolaimus galeatus, -0.51 for Pratylenchus spp., and -0.64 for Xiphinema americanum. Correlation coefficients for numbers of nematodes in the roots and yield averaged -0.63 for Pratylenchus spp. and -0.56 H. galeatus. Correlation coefficients for yield and total number of nematodes averaged -0.65 in roots and -0.55 in soils. Negative correlations also were greater for comparisons of yield with total parasitic-nematode biomass than with numbers of individual nematodes of a species or total numbers of parasitic nematodes.     

Community Analyses of Plant-Parasitic Nematodes in the Kalsow Prairie,Iowa

Twenty-one species of plant-parasitic nematodes were recovered from 15 sites in the Kalsow Prairie, Iowa. Nematode communities were analyzed by prominence and importance values of the nematode species and also by diversity and concentration of dominance. The use of numbers and biomass were compared in indices of diversity and concentration of dominance. Tylenchorhynchus maximns ranked first in mean density/site, prominence value, and importance value, although it was not found as frequently as many other nematodes. Xiphinema americanum and T. maximus were among the dominant nematodes in 11 of 15 sites when biomass was used in the concentration-of-dominance index, but they were dominant in only five sites when numbers were used.     

Prevalence of strongyle nematodes in naturally infected ponies of different ages and during different seasons of the year in Louisiana

One hundred and seventeen ponies were surveyed for the seasonal prevalence of strongyloid parasites, particularly cyathostomes, and for host- and age-related differences in these infections. For 56 ponies, all stages of the cyathostome life cycle, both mucosal and luminal, were enumerated. Total numbers of cyathostomes and percentage of developing larvae (DL) encysted in the mucosa remained constant in all 4 seasons of the year, whereas a significant increase in the percentage of adults in the cyathostome population occurred in fall. In yearling ponies, encysted early third-stage larvae constituted a significantly lower percentage of the cyathostome population, and DL and adults formed a significantly higher percentage, compared with those stages in older ponies, 2-5 yr of age. More species of cyathostomes were present in yearling ponies than in older ponies. Significant differences occurred in fecal egg counts at different seasons of the year, even though adult cyathostome and large strongyle numbers remained constant. Twenty-four species of cyathostomes were found year-round, and 2 rare species were found in only 2 or 3 seasons of the year. Prevalences for these 24 species were not significantly different during any season, although 5 species had significant differences in intensity levels of infection in certain seasons of the year. Three species of large strongyle (strongylinae) adults had significant seasonal variations in intensities. These were Strongylus edentatus and S. vulgaris, which occurred in significantly higher numbers in summer and fall, and Triodontophorus brevicauda, which was more numerous in spring and summer. Fourth- and fifth-stage larvae of S. vulgaris recovered from the mesenteric vasculature were significantly more numerous in winter and spring than in other seasons.     

Science and Knowledge of Free-Roaming Donkeys—A Critical Review

The emergence of free-roaming donkey (Equus asinus) populations globally has brought novel challenges for conservationists, land managers, and those concerned about animal welfare. We provide a review of the scientific literature pertaining to the place and role of free-roaming donkeys from 1950 until 2020. Using quantitative and qualitative techniques, namely categorical and thematic analysis and critical discourse analysis, to review >100 articles, we critically examine the logics and rationales that are used to either support or denounce donkey presence in particular landscapes and discuss their place and role in different ecological contexts. Free-roaming donkeys are largely understudied and clouded by dichotomous points of view, different conservation agendas, and the presence of other species in donkey habitat. There is an important need for more in-depth, site-specific studies on free-roaming donkeys that draw on tools and techniques from across the social and natural sciences. Such efforts would offer a richer, more holistic, and comprehensive picture of free-roaming donkeys that consider both human and animal perspectives and the wider environment. This has important implications for generating long-term sustainable management solutions for free-roaming donkeys. © 2021 The Authors. The Journal of Wildlife Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of The Wildlife Society.