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Journal of veterinary internal medicine2020; 34(2); 922-932; doi: 10.1111/jvim.15698

Effects of transportation on gastric pH and gastric ulceration in mares.

Abstract: Transportation has been suggested as a risk factor for gastric ulceration in horses, but limited evidence supports this assumption. Methods: Twenty-six Standardbred, Thoroughbred, and Warmblood mares from a university teaching herd. Methods: Twelve mares were confined for 12 hours, overnight, in reproductive stocks with indwelling nasogastric tubes (NGTs) to assess pH of gastric fluid (GF). Gastric ulceration was assessed endoscopically before and after confinement. Subsequently, 26 horses were transported for 12 hours, overnight, in 2 consignments. During transportation, GF was aspirated from indwelling NGT placed in the same 12 mares used in the confinement study, and gastric ulceration was assessed endoscopically before and after transportation in all horses. Results: The median pH of GF in confined horses was 1.70-2.49 at each sampling point, and there was no apparent effect on gastric squamous ulcer scores. The median pH of GF from the same 12 horses at corresponding sampling times during transportation was 6.82-7.22. Transportation was associated with increased gastric squamous ulcer scores, particularly in horses fasted for gastroscopy and NGT placement immediately before departure. Gastric emptying appeared delayed after transportation in horses fed before departure. Conclusions: Transportation is associated with increased gastric squamous ulceration and with increased pH of GF. These findings may be a consequence of impaired gastric emptying and reflux of alkaline small intestinal content, with factors such as duodenal bile salts and short-chain fatty acids mediating mucosal injury.
© 2020 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
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Publication Date: 2020-02-03 PubMed ID: 32009244PubMed Central: PMC7096603DOI: 10.1111/jvim.15698Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This study investigates the influence of transportation on gastric ulceration and pH levels in mares. The findings suggest that transportation increases gastric squamous ulceration and raises gastric fluid pH levels, potentially mediated by factors like impaired gastric emptying and reflux of alkaline small intestinal content.

Methods

  • The study was conducted on twenty-six mares including Standardbred, Thoroughbred, and Warmblood from a university teaching herd.
  • Twelve of these mares were confined for 12 hours with indwelling nasogastric tubes (NGTs) to assess the pH of the gastric fluid (GF). Endoscopic examination was performed before and after confinement to assess gastric ulceration.
  • Later, all 26 horses were transported for 12 hours and the GF was aspirated from the same 12 mares used in the confinement study during this journey. Gastric ulceration was again assessed endoscopically for all horses before and after transport.

Results

  • The median pH of the GF in confined horses varied between 1.70-2.49 at each sampling point with no apparent impact on gastric squamous ulcer scores.
  • During transport, the median GF pH of the same 12 horses was much higher, between 6.82-7.22. This indicates that travel conditions somehow caused the stomach to become less acidic.
  • The transportation appeared to increase gastric squamous ulcer scores, particularly in horses that were fasted before departure for NGT placement and gastroscopy.
  • Horses fed before departure seemed to show delayed gastric emptying post-transport.

Conclusions

  • The study suggests that transportation is linked with increased gastric squamous ulceration as well as increased pH of GF. It connects these findings with impaired gastric emptying and reflux of alkaline small intestinal content.
  • The potential mediators for this mucosal injury could be duodenal bile salts and short-chain fatty acids.

Cite This Article

APA
Padalino B, Davis GL, Raidal SL. (2020). Effects of transportation on gastric pH and gastric ulceration in mares. J Vet Intern Med, 34(2), 922-932. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.15698

Publication

Journal of veterinary internal medicine
ISSN: 1939-1676
NlmUniqueID: 8708660
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 34
Issue: 2
Pages: 922-932

Researcher Affiliations

Padalino, Barbara
  • Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Division of Animal Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
Davis, Georgina L
  • School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia.
Raidal, Sharanne L
  • School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Female
  • Gastrointestinal Contents / chemistry
  • Horse Diseases / physiopathology
  • Horses
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Stomach Ulcer / physiopathology
  • Stomach Ulcer / veterinary
  • Transportation

Grant Funding

  • J.G. Goldner Pty Ltd (Goldners Horse Transport), Ingleburn, New South Wales, Australia, in kind support (supply of truck and driver)
  • private donation / Virbac (Australia), Milperra, NSW
  • donation / World Horse Welfare Organisation, Blackpool, United Kingdom

Conflict of Interest Statement

Authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 16 times.
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