Topic:Stomach
The equine stomach is a complex organ responsible for the initial stages of digestion in horses. It is divided into two main regions: the non-glandular (squamous) region and the glandular region, each with distinct functions and susceptibilities to conditions such as ulcers. The stomach's acidic environment aids in breaking down food particles, while enzymes initiate the digestion of proteins. The equine stomach is adapted for continuous grazing, with relatively small capacity and rapid emptying into the small intestine. This page aggregates peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the anatomy, physiology, and common disorders of the horse's stomach, as well as their implications for equine nutrition and health management.
Epidemiological observations on stomach worms of horses in Morocco. Six to nine horses per month (total of 94 in a year) were examined for stomach worms in the Settat region of Morocco. All the animals were infected by at least one helminth species. Habronema muscae occurred in 95.8%, H. majus in 75.6% and Trichostrongylus axei in 80.9% of horses. Polyparasitism was observed in 93.6% of horses. Both for Habronema sp. and T. axei the peak worm burden was observed in November and minimum in June. The infection pattern of Habronema spp. was directly related to the period of activity of fly vectors.
Recovery of helminths postmortem from equines. II. Helminths and larvae of gasterophilus in the gastro-intestinal tract and oestrids from the sinuses. The tongue, pharynx, oesophagus and gums are examined for larvae of gasterophilus spp., and the nose and sinuses for oestrid larvae. The gastro-intestinal tract is divided into separate specimens-stomach, small intestine, caecum, ventral colon, dorsal colon, descending colon and rectum- and each is examined separately. Aliquots of ingesta of 1/4 by mass of the stomach and 1/10 by mass of the small intestine, caecum, ventral colon and dorsal colon are collected for microscopic examination. Each part of the wall of the caecum, ventral and dorsal colon is washed and specimens are collected for su...
Exuberant granulation tissue in the stomach of a horse. A 4-year-old stallion was examined because of a 2-month history of inappetance and weight loss. Diarrhoea had also developed a month before presentation. Abnormal clinical findings were emaciation, diarrhoea, ventral oedema, palpable mesenteric lymph node enlargement and a large mass in the left cranial portion of the abdomen. Significant laboratory findings were anaemia (packed cell volume 0.21 litres/litre), hypoalbuminaemia (16 g/litre) and xylose malabsorption. The horse was euthanased and at necropsy a 10.5 kg pendunculated mass composed of granulation tissue was found within and attached...
Pyloric stenosis in a foal. A two month old Thoroughbred filly was presented with signs of depression, grinding of the teeth, frothing of the mouth and abdominal pain. These signs had persisted for two weeks despite treatment with mineral oil, dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate, meperidine and antibiotics. A variety of diagnostic tests were done, the only abnormal finding was a stress leukon. On exploratory laparotomy the stomach was dilated with fluid and gas and the pyloric canal was constricted. Pyloroplasty resulted in correction of the condition. The etiological possibilities are discussed. This is believed to be the fir...
Evaluation of an analytical method for the diagnosis of cantharidin toxicosis due to ingestion of blister beetles (Epicauta lemniscata) by horses and sheep. An analytical method for cantharidin, using high performance liquid chromatography, was applied to field specimens from horses and sheep with blister beetle (Epicauta lemniscata) poisoning. Stomach content and urine proved to be valuable aids in diagnosis. One incident of cantharidin toxicosis in ruminants (sheep) was confirmed.
[Comparative study of the digestion of a complete food in the pony and the rabbit]. A complete pelleted diet (table 1) containing 11 p. 100 of crude protein and 17 p. 100 of cellulose (ADF-lignine according to the method of Van Soest) was distributed to ponies and rabbits. Total digestibilities, partial cumulative digestibilities in different compartments of the digestive tract (stomach, small intestine, caecum, proximal and distal colon) and changes in biochemical composition, measured by pH, VFA, lactic acid and ammonia concentrations, were compared. Total digestibilities (table 2). There was no significant difference in dry matter between the two species. Crude protein dig...
Scanning electron microscopy of Gasterophilus intestinalis lesions of the equine stomach. The lesions caused by larvae of Gasterophilus intestinalis in the cardiac region of the equine stomach were funnel-shaped ulcers surrounded by a rim of hyperplastic epithelial cells. Bacteria were commonly seen on the rim of epithelial cells, at the base of some ulcers, and within the cavities produced by the hooks of the larvae. Cellular debris and mucus were within the ulcer.
Regional blood flow to the stomach and small intestine in ponies. Studies on regional blood flow to the stomach and small intestine were performed in 9 anesthetized ponies. Carbonized microspheres (15 +/- 5 micron in diameter) labeled with 85Sr were injected into the left atrium to determine blood flow distribution. In 4 ponies, the regional flows to mucosal-submucosal layers of the stomach and the small intestine were also measured. The nonglandular region of the stomach received the least blood per 100 g of tissue, and the duodenum received the greatest. The regional blood flow to the duodenum was significantly higher than that to the glandular stomach reg...
Critical tests of the antiparasitic activity of thiabendazole and trichlorfon sequentially administered to horses via stomach tube. Thirteen critical tests were conducted in horses naturally infected with helminths and bots. Single doses of thiabendazole (44 mg/kg of body weight) and trichlorfon (40 mg/kg of body weight) powder formulations were administered as suspensions sequentially given via stomach tube to evaluate the efficacy of the combination against the large parasites of horses. Parasite removal efficacies were 100% against 2nd instar Gasterophilus intestinalis and 2nd and 3rd instar Gasterophilus nasalis and 82 to 100% against 3rd instar G intestinals. There were complete removals of mature and immature Parasca...
Comparative studies on the gastric glycopeptide in eleven animal species. 1. Glycopeptides in the stomachs of eleven mammalian species, including human, rabbit, horse, cow, pig, goat, sheep, dog, cat, guinea pig and rat were assayed by determining the carbohydrate content of materials which remained after proteolysis. 2. The glycopeptide content was higher in the mucosa than in the muscular layer including serosa, especially in the porcine stomach and the fourth stomachs of the ruminants than in the stomachs of any other animals. 3. The glycopeptide, which was stained with both alcian blue and PAS, was absent or sparingly present in the mucosae of the human, rabbit,...
Recurrent esophageal obstruction due to squamous cell carcinoma in a horse. Squamous cell carcinoma involving the pars esophagea of the stomach caused recurrent esophageal obstruction in an 11 year old Pinto gelding. The tumor encircled the esophagus and was attached to the diaphragm, spleen, aorta, left adrenal gland and kidney. Definitive diagnosis was provided by biopsy of the mass via standing left flank laparotomy.
Effect of antiparasitic medication in ponies on pasture. Twenty Shetland ponies, 6 to 7 months old, were naturally infected with gastrointestinal nematodes and stomach bots. The ponies were allotted to 2 groups of 10 and were maintained on separate similar pastures that were free of infective larvae at the beginning of the study. The ponies in 1 group were treated monthly for 17 months with a therapeutic dose of a thiabendazole and piperazine mixture; those in the other group were not treated. During the 3rd and 5th months of the experiment, the ponies in the treated group were also given therapeutic doses of dichlorvos to remove bots. Various physi...
Occurrence of second and third instars of Gasterophilus intestinalis and Gasterophilus nasalis in stomachs of horses in Kentucky. The occurrence of 2nd and 3rd instars of Gasterophilus intestinalis and Gasterophilus nasalis was determined in 476 horses during the 22-year period from 1951 to 1973. Overall, G intestinalis infected 98.7% of the horses and averaged 168/horse; whereas G nasalis infected 80.7% of the horses and averaged 52/horse. Aggregate average total numbers for G intestinalis ranged from a low of 50 in September to a high of 229 in March, and for G nasalis, from a low of 14 in September to a high of 82 in February. Horses were infected by 2nd or 3rd instars of both species on a year-round basis. Differenti...