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Acta veterinaria Scandinavica1999; 40(2); 109-120; doi: 10.1186/BF03547028

Post-mortem findings of gastric ulcers in Swedish horses up to one year of age: a retrospective study 1924-1996.

Abstract: Necropsy records from 702 horses, less than one year old, that were subjected to necropsy between 1924 and 1996 were used to estimate the prevalence of gastric ulceration in younger horses and to evaluate some potential risk factors that may contribute to the development of gastric ulceration. Information concerning breed, gender, age, season of death, clinical signs of colic, medical treatment, parasitism and documentation of diseases in different organs were recorded, as well as size, number and anatomical distribution of ulcers. Gastric ulcers were found in 96 of 702 young horses (14%) and gastritis in another 64 animals (9%). The cutaneous region adjacent to margo plicatus (51%), and the corpus region were commonly affected (46%). The investigation clearly demonstrates that gastric ulceration has affected young Swedish horses to a similar degree during most of the 20th century. A significant (p < or = 0.05) association between gastric ulcers and the signs of colic, parasitism and a concomitant intestinal, liver, and oesophageal involvement was found. No breed or sex predilection with gastric ulcers was obtained. The risk of gastric ulcers was highest during the fall (odds ratio 3.52) and lowest during the summer (odds ratio 0.45). The seasonal variation could not be explained by concomitant findings of Gasterophilus larvae. By using a multivariate logistic regression analysis, only season significantly influenced the risk of gastric ulceration. Undersökningen genomfördes for art studera forekomsten av magsår hos obducerade svenska fol yngre än 1 år och for att identifiera riskfaktorer av betydelse for utvecklingen av magsår. Materialet hämtades från obduktionsprotokoll förda vid Institutionen för patologi vid Kungliga Veterinärhögskolan i Stockholm (1924–1976) respektive Veterinärmedicinska fakulteten i Uppsala (1977–1996). Information om ras, kön, älder, obduktionsår, tid på året då djuret avlidit, koliksymptom, medicinsk behandling och parasitskador noterades och samband mellan magsår och andra patologiska förändringar i tarm, lever, matstrupe och bukspottkörtel undersöktes. Magsårens anatomiska lokalisation, storlek och antal registrerades. Materialet analyserades med användning av bivariat- och multivariatmodeller. Magsår förekom hos 96 av 702 föl (14%) och gastriter hos ytterligare 64 djur (9%). De flesta såren observerades i magsäckens kutana del nära margo plicatus (51%) och i körteldelen (46%). Undersökningen visar att magsår har förekommit hos svenska föl under större delen av detta århundrade. Förekomsten av magsår var signifikant (p≤0.05) kopplad till koliksymptom, parasitskador och samtidiga patologiska förändringar i tarm, lever eller matstrupe. Inga signifikanta skillnader i magsårsfrekvens kunde urskiljas mellan könen eller olika hästraser. Magsår förekom oftast under hösten (odds ratio 3.52) och var minst vanligt under sommaren (0.45). Variationen i magsårsfrekvens under året var inte relaterad till förekomsten eller frånvaron av gasterophiluslarver hos hästarna.
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Publication Date: 1999-12-22 PubMed ID: 10605127PubMed Central: PMC8043222DOI: 10.1186/BF03547028Google 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 research examines the prevalence of gastric ulcers in young Swedish horses over a span of 72 years (1924-1996). The study also investigates potential risk factors contributing to the development of these ulcers.

Objectives and Methodology

  • The primary aim of this retrospective study was to estimate the occurrence of gastric ulceration in horses less than one year old between 1924 and 1996. Researchers reviewed necropsy records of 702 young horses.
  • The study used comprehensive data encompassing breed, gender, age, time of death, clinical signs of colic, medical treatment, parasitic infections, concurrent diseases, as well as ulcer characteristics like size, number, and anatomical distribution.

Key Findings

  • Gastric ulcers were identified in 14% of the examined horses, and gastritis was present in another 9%.
  • The research highlights that ulcers were commonly found in the cutaneous region adjacent to margo plicatus (51%) and in the corpus region of the stomach (46%).
  • The incidence of gastric ulcers remained relatively constant among younger Swedish horses throughout the 20th century.
  • The study reveals a significant relationship (p ≤ 0.05) between the presence of gastric ulcers and symptoms of colic, parasitic infections, and concurrent intestinal, liver, and esophageal diseases.
  • However, the research did not find any breed-based or gender-based differences in the risk of developing gastric ulcers.

Seasonal Variation and Gastric Ulcers

  • The risk of gastric ulcers was found to be highest in the fall (with odds ratio of 3.52) and lowest in the summer (odds ratio of 0.45).
  • This seasonal variation in the occurrence of ulcers wasn’t associated with the detection of Gasterophilus larvae, an equine stomach bot fly.
  • The multivariate logistic regression analysis confirmed that the season was the only factor significantly affecting the risk of gastric ulceration in these horses.

These findings carry implications for horse care programs, with the need for more vigilant monitoring during the fall season and for horses showing signs of colic or parasitic infections.

Cite This Article

APA
Sandin A, Skidell J, Häggström J, Girma K, Nilsson G. (1999). Post-mortem findings of gastric ulcers in Swedish horses up to one year of age: a retrospective study 1924-1996. Acta Vet Scand, 40(2), 109-120. https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03547028

Publication

Acta veterinaria Scandinavica
ISSN: 0044-605X
NlmUniqueID: 0370400
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 40
Issue: 2
Pages: 109-120

Researcher Affiliations

Sandin, A
  • Department of Animal Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
Skidell, J
    Häggström, J
      Girma, K
        Nilsson, G

          MeSH Terms

          • Aging / pathology
          • Animals
          • Female
          • Gastritis / epidemiology
          • Gastritis / pathology
          • Gastritis / veterinary
          • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
          • Horse Diseases / pathology
          • Horses
          • Logistic Models
          • Male
          • Prevalence
          • Retrospective Studies
          • Risk Factors
          • Seasons
          • Stomach Ulcer / epidemiology
          • Stomach Ulcer / pathology
          • Stomach Ulcer / veterinary
          • Sweden / epidemiology

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          Citations

          This article has been cited 8 times.
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