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Home / Equine Research Bank / Animals (Basel) / Is There a Difference in the Prevalence of Gastric Ulcers be...
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2024; 14(11); doi: 10.3390/ani14111531

Is There a Difference in the Prevalence of Gastric Ulcers between Stallions Used for Breeding and Those Not Used for Breeding?

Abstract: Equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) is a worldwide disease, and includes two different syndromes, Equine Squamous Gastric Disease (ESGD), affecting the squamous mucosa, and Equine Glandular Gastric Disease (EGGD), affecting the glandular mucosa. These two diseases are present in different categories (different activities, ages, etc.) and breeds of horses. The effect of sex on gastric health is not clear: some studies found a higher prevalence of ESGD in geldings and stallions, while others found no influence of sex on the squamous mucosa. The few studies conducted on glandular diseases failed to identify sex as a risk factor. The only study on breeding horses, focused on Thoroughbred mares at pasture, found that 70% of them were affected by gastric ulcerations especially in the squamous mucosa. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of EGUS, ESGD, and EGGD in intact males while also investigating the potential influences of breeding and exercise activity on the occurrence and severity of the diseases. A total of 101 intact males were admitted for gastroscopic examination. Comprehensive data regarding their breeding and sports history, management, and presence of clinical signs were recorded. A statistical analysis was performed. Within this equine population, no discernible relationship was found between breeding activity and occurrence and severity of ESGD or EGGD. Exercise and a combination of exercise and breeding activities were found to be associated with the occurrence of EGGD. The presence of clinical signs was correlated only with the grade of ESGD in this cohort of horses.
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Publication Date: 2024-05-22 PubMed ID: 38891578PubMed Central: PMC11171266DOI: 10.3390/ani14111531Google 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 research is aimed at determining whether stallions used for breeding are more susceptible to equine gastric ulcer syndrome, and any possible links between breeding, physical activity, and ulcer severity.

Introduction

  • Equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS), a common disease in horses worldwide, is characterised by two different syndromes: Equine Squamous Gastric Disease (ESGD), affecting the squamous mucosa, and Equine Glandular Gastric Disease (EGGD), affecting the glandular mucosa.
  • The diseases occur in varying breeds and categories of horses, with contrasting studies on the effect of sex on the diseases.
  • A study on Thoroughbred mares at pasture found 70% to be affected by gastric ulcerations, particularly in the squamous mucosa.
  • The researchers set out to determine the prevalence of EGUS, ESGD, and EGGD in intact males while also investigating the potential influences of breeding and exercise activity on the occurrence and severity of the diseases.

Methodology

  • A total of 101 intact males were subjected to a gastroscopic examination. Detailed data, including breeding and sports history, management, and the presence of clinical signs, were meticulously recorded.
  • A comprehensive statistical analysis was carried out.

Results

  • No significant link was found between breeding activities and the presence and severity of ESGD or EGGD in the examined equine population.
  • However, it was identified that exercise and a combination of exercise and breeding activities were associated with the occurrence of EGGD.
  • A correlation was identified between the presence of clinical signs and the grade of ESGD in the examined horses.

Conclusion

  • This study found no evidence to suggest that stallions used for breeding are more susceptible to either ESGD or EGGD.
  • On the other hand, an association was found between physical activity and the prevalence of EGGD, suggesting that further research into the effects of strenuous exercise on intact male horses may be warranted.

Cite This Article

APA
Busechian S, Bindi F, Pieramati C, Orvieto S, Pisello L, Cozzi S, Ortolani F, Rueca F. (2024). Is There a Difference in the Prevalence of Gastric Ulcers between Stallions Used for Breeding and Those Not Used for Breeding? Animals (Basel), 14(11). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14111531

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 14
Issue: 11

Researcher Affiliations

Busechian, Sara
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Via San Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia, Italy.
Bindi, Francesca
  • Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Via delle Piagge, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
Pieramati, Camillo
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Via San Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia, Italy.
Orvieto, Simona
  • Independent Researcher, 06100 Perugia, Italy.
Pisello, Lorenzo
  • Independent Researcher, 06100 Perugia, Italy.
Cozzi, Selene
  • Independent Researcher, 20100 Milan, Italy.
Ortolani, Flaminia
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Via San Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia, Italy.
Rueca, Fabrizio
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, Via San Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia, Italy.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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