Valorizzazione dell'asino sardo attraverso il suo utilizzo in interventi assistiti con gli animali. Studio preliminare. The Sardinian donkey as a valuable resource in animal-assisted interventions. Preliminary study.

Animal-assisted interventions (AAIs) have gained increasing scientific recognition as multidisciplinary approaches capable of improving physical, psychological, educational, and social wellbeing. While dogs, cats, and horses are the species most frequently involved, donkeys remain substantially understudied despite their behavioural characteristics and aptitude for establishing stable relationships with humans. The Sardinian donkey (Equus asinus asinus), an endangered autochthonous breed, represents an important component of Sardinia's zootechnical and cultural heritage. The identification of innovative and sustainable applications for this breed may therefore contribute to both its conservation and the development of evidence-based AAI programmes. Our research was developed within a One Health framework and aimed to evaluate the suitability of the Sardinian donkey for AAIs through an integrated assessment of animal welfare, physiological responses to human interaction, and potential zoonotic risks. We combined a comprehensive review of the scientific literature on AAIs with an original experimental study conducted on Sardinian donkeys exposed to different degrees of human interaction. Animal welfare was evaluated through clinical examination, body condition assessment, oxidative stress biomarkers, neuroendocrine indicators, and parasitological investigations. Oxidative status was assessed by measuring reactive oxygen metabolites (dROMs) and plasma antioxidant capacity (PAT), while serum cortisol and serotonin concentrations were determined to evaluate physiological responses to human interaction. Faecal examinations were performed to investigate gastrointestinal parasitic infections and their potential implications for animal and public health. The results demonstrated that increasing levels of human interaction were associated with significant changes in neuroendocrine parameters. Donkeys regularly involved in human activities exhibited higher serum cortisol and serotonin concentrations than free-ranging animals, suggesting physiological activation associated with environmental stimulation rather than impaired welfare. Reactive oxygen metabolite concentrations remained stable among the experimental groups. In contrast, plasma antioxidant capacity was significantly reduced in the most intensively managed animals, indicating adaptive physiological responses without evidence of overt oxidative stress. Parasitological analyses revealed a high prevalence of gastrointestinal strongyles, predominantly cyathostomins, with significantly greater parasite burdens in free-roaming animals than in managed donkeys, emphasizing the importance of regular veterinary surveillance and parasite control within AAI programmes. Overall, our research provides original scientific evidence supporting the suitability of the Sardinian donkey as a co-therapist in animal-assisted interventions, provided that appropriate welfare standards, veterinary monitoring, and management protocols are implemented. The integration of behavioural, physiological, biochemical, and parasitological indicators offers a comprehensive model for welfare assessment and contributes to the development of evidence-based guidelines for the responsible use of donkeys in AAIs. Furthermore, our work proposes an innovative strategy for the valorisation of the Sardinian donkey, demonstrating that its involvement in AAIs may represent a sustainable opportunity for the conservation of an endangered native breed while promoting the principles of One Health, biodiversity preservation, and social wellbeing.