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Equine veterinary journal1996; 28(5); 368-374; doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1996.tb03107.x

Factors associated with gastric lesions in thoroughbred racehorses.

Abstract: Gastroscopic examinations were performed on 67 Thoroughbred horses in training at a race track and repeat examinations performed in 35 horses, 2 to 3 months later. Horses were age 2-9 years and included 16 two-year-olds, 32 three-year-olds and 19 horses > or = 4-years-old. Forty-two of the 67 horses had raced within the 2 months before the initial examination and the remaining 25 horses were in training. Sixty-two of the 67 horses (93%) had one or more lesions present in the gastric mucosa and lesions were present in all of the 42 horses that had raced. Thirty-two of the 35 horses, examined twice (91%), had gastric lesions on the first examination and all had lesions on the second examination. Four sites of the gastric squamous epithelium were graded for lesion severity on a scale of 0 to 10 and the mean maximum squamous mucosal lesion score was significantly (P < 0.01) greater for the second examination (4.89) than for the first examination (3.63). Maximum lesion scores were greater in 24 horses, no different in 5 horses and less in 6 horses on the second examination. The difference in mean maximum lesion scores between examinations was greatest in horses age 2 years, increasing from 1.75 to 4.00 (P = 0.014). Lesions in the gastric glandular mucosa also were scored on a scale of 0 to 10 and there was no difference in mean lesion scores in the glandular mucosa between the first and second examinations (1.89 vs. 1.90). Lesion scores were compared for gender, racing history and medication with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, systemic corticosteroid or ACTH, or frusemide within the previous 2 months. Except for racing history, there were no significant differences in mean lesion scores for squamous or glandular mucosa based on these comparisons, indicating that there was no effect of gender or medication history on ulcer severity in the horses of our study. Mean maximum gastric squamous mucosal lesion score was significantly (P < 0.01) greater in horses that had raced (4.51) than for horses that had not raced (2.36) in the 2 months before the endoscopic examination. There was no difference in mean glandular mucosal lesion scores between horses that had raced (1.93) compared to horses that had not raced (1.13).
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Publication Date: 1996-09-01 PubMed ID: 8894534DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1996.tb03107.xGoogle 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.

The study investigates the rate and severity of gastric lesions within Thoroughbred racehorses, noting a high percentage initially and an increased severity over time, particularly in horses aged 2 years and actively racing. No correlation was identified between lesion severity and factors such as gender, medication history, and racing history, aside from the fact of recent race participation.

Study Overview

  • The examination of racehorse gastric health involved 67 Thoroughbred horses that had been in training at a race track.
  • The horses ranged from 2 to 9 years old.
  • Within 2 months prior to the study, 42 horses had actively raced, while 25 had simply been in training.
  • A follow-up gastroscopic examination was performed 2 to 3 months later on 35 of the horses.
  • Lesion severity grading was based on a 0-10 scale.

Initial Findings

  • Ninety-three percent of the horses initially showed one or more gastric mucosa lesions.
  • 100% of those who had recently raced showed lesions.
  • On the first examination, these lesions were rated with an average maximum score of 3.63.

Follow-up Findings

  • Ninety-one percent of the follow-up group showed gastric lesions on the first examination, but 100% showed lesions on the second examination.
  • A significant increase (P < 0.01) in the mean maximum lesion severity was noted on the second examination, with a score of 4.89.
  • The greatest difference in lesion severity was found in 2-year-old horses, which saw an average score increase from 1.75 to 4.00 (P = 0.014).

Other Factors

  • Factors including gender, medication history with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, systemic corticosteroid or ACTH, frusemide usage, and racing history were considered for their potential impact on lesion severity.
  • Aside from recent race participation, none of the above factors were found to have a significant effect on ulcer severity.

Conclusion

  • The study’s evidence concludes that recent race participation significantly (P < 0.01) exacerbates gastric squamous mucosal lesions severity in Thoroughbred racehorses.
  • Horses that raced in the two-month period preceding the study had notably higher mean maximum gastric squamous mucosal lesion scores (4.51) than those that had not raced (2.36).
  • However, there was no significant difference in terms of the glandular mucosal lesions between the horses that had raced and those that had not.

Cite This Article

APA
Murray MJ, Schusser GF, Pipers FS, Gross SJ. (1996). Factors associated with gastric lesions in thoroughbred racehorses. Equine Vet J, 28(5), 368-374. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1996.tb03107.x

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 0425-1644
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 28
Issue: 5
Pages: 368-374

Researcher Affiliations

Murray, M J
  • Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center, Virginia-Maryland, Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Leesburg 20177, USA.
Schusser, G F
    Pipers, F S
      Gross, S J

        MeSH Terms

        • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / therapeutic use
        • Age Distribution
        • Animals
        • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / therapeutic use
        • Breeding
        • Diuretics / therapeutic use
        • Female
        • Furosemide / therapeutic use
        • Gastric Mucosa / pathology
        • Gastroscopy / veterinary
        • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
        • Horse Diseases / pathology
        • Horses
        • Male
        • Physical Conditioning, Animal
        • Prevalence
        • Sex Factors
        • Sports
        • Stomach Diseases / epidemiology
        • Stomach Diseases / pathology
        • Stomach Diseases / veterinary

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