Equine gamma herpesvirus presence and viral load are not associated with equine glandular gastric disease.

This study found that the presence and viral load of equine herpesvirus-2 and 5 (EHV-2 and EHV-5) are not linked with the development of equine glandular gastric disease (EGGD) in horses. The research further highlights that the most common pathological abnormality within the gastric tissues of horses with EGGD was inflammatory condition, with only a few instances of ulcer or erosion observed.

About The Research

• The aim of the research was to examine the probable involvement of equine herpesvirus-2 (EHV-2) and equine herpesvirus-5 (EHV-5) in equine glandular gastric disease (EGGD). They did this by visualizing and quantifying these viruses in the gastric tissues of horses affected by EGGD and healthy horses.
• Another objective was to describe the histopathological abnormalities in the gastric mucosa of horses with EGGD.

Methods

• The study involved 29 horses, out of which 21 underwent postmortem and 8 gastroscopic examinations.
• The horses were categorized into three groups: healthy, affected by EGGD, and those having both EGGD and equine squamous gastric disease.
• Gastric mucosal samples were collected from the horses for examination.
• The scientists conducted histopathology and in situ hybridization to identify and quantify EHV-2 and EHV-5 in the gastric tissues
• The evaluators who assessed the results were kept unaware of the groupings.

Results

• The study found a higher presence of viral load in the mucosa of horses without EGGD compared to the normal or abnormal gastric tissues from EGGD afflicted horses.
• There was no variation in the viral loads for EHV-2 or EHV-5 between normal and abnormal gastric tissues in horses with EGGD.
• The most common pathological abnormality observed in horses with EGGD was an inflammatory condition called Lymphocytic plasmacytic gastritis. In only three cases was mucosal disruption (ulcer or erosion of the glandular gastric mucosa) observed.

Conclusion

• From the findings, the study concluded that equine gamma herpesviruses (EHV-2 and EHV-5) are unlikely to play a role in the development of equine glandular gastric disease.
• EGGD mainly presents itself as an inflammatory condition but can occasionally also result in mucosal disruption.