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Prevalence of gastric squamous ulceration in horses with abdominal pain.
Abstract: Prevalence of gastric ulcerations differs widely according to breed and circumstances of management. Further study of the biological variables involved is required in order to identify more exactly the reasons for the reported range. Objective: The objectives of this present study, which do not appear to have been addressed previously in the literature, were 1) the prevalence of gastric ulceration in horses with abdominal pain. 2) difference in prevalence in horses responding to medical therapy and those requiring surgical intervention. 3) whether gastric ulceration is associated with any particular gastrointestinal tract lesion. Methods: Horses were included in the study if gastroscopy was performed within 24 h of presentation. The presence and grade of gastric ulceration was recorded together with the medical records. Data were analysed categorically using a Fisher's exact test or Chi-squared test. Results: One hundred horses met the selection criteria. Forty-nine percent (49/100) of horses had gastric ulceration, 63% (63/100) responded to medical therapy and 37% (37/100) to surgical intervention, and prevalence was higher in the former (59%) than the latter (32%). Horses with duodenitis-proximal jejunitis (DPJ) had a trend towards higher prevalence of gastric ulceration compared to those with other GI lesions. Sixty-eight percent (13/19) of horses diagnosed with DPJ, 32% (8/25) with a large colon impaction and 14% (1/7) with large colon volvulus had gastric ulceration. Conclusions: The presence of gastric ulceration in all horses with abdominal pain was moderate. Horses responding to medical therapy had a higher prevalence of gastric ulceration compared to horses requiring surgery and there was a trend towards higher prevalence in cases of DPJ compared to other GI lesions. There was not a statistically significant difference in gastric ulceration detected between specific lesions, including large colon impactions and large colon volvulus. Conclusions: The clinical relevance of ulceration is still unclear and further studies are required to differentiate between incidental and clinically important gastric ulceration.
Publication Date: 2006-07-27 PubMed ID: 16866203DOI: 10.2746/042516406777749164Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
Summary
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The study explores prevalence of gastric ulcers in horses experiencing abdominal pain with a focus on examining variations due to different treatments and specific gastrointestinal tract lesions. Results suggest moderate occurrence, differentiation in prevalence based on medical or surgical interventions, and potentially higher incidence in horses diagnosed with duodenitis-proximal jejunitis.
Objectives and Methodology
- This research aimed to investigate the prevalence of gastric ulcers in horses with abdominal pain, differences in prevalences among horses responding to either medical therapy or surgery, and the association of gastric ulcers with specific gastrointestinal (GI) tract lesions.
- Horses were eligible for the study if they underwent gastroscopy within 24 hours of showing symptoms. The presence and severity of gastric ulceration were noted, together with the medical records of the animals.
- Data was put through categorical analysis using statistical tools like Fisher’s exact test or Chi-squared test.
Findings
- The research found that out of 100 selected horses, 49% had gastric ulceration. Moreover, a marked difference was observed in the prevalence of gastric ulceration among horses depending on the intervention – 63% responded to medical therapy, and 37% to surgical treatment, with prevalence being higher in the group that underwent medical treatment.
- There was an identifiable trend of a higher prevalence of gastric ulceration in horses diagnosed with duodenitis-proximal jejunitis (DPJ) compared to other GI lesions. The specific breakdown was 68% for horses diagnosed with DPJ, 32% for a large colon impaction, and 14% for large colon volvulus.
Conclusions
- The study concluded that the presence of gastric ulceration in horses with abdominal pain was moderate. Medical therapy seemed more closely associated with the presence of gastric ulcerations than surgical intervention. Furthermore, a trend of elevated prevalence was seen in cases of DPJ compared to other GI lesions.
- However, there was not a statistically significant difference in gastric ulceration detected among specific lesions, such as large colon impactions and large colon volvulus.
- The clinical relevance of these ulcerations is not entirely clear and further investigations are needed to distinguish between incidental and clinically significant gastric ulceration.
Cite This Article
APA
Dukti SA, Perkins S, Murphy J, Barr B, Boston R, Southwood LL, Bernard W.
(2006).
Prevalence of gastric squamous ulceration in horses with abdominal pain.
Equine Vet J, 38(4), 347-349.
https://doi.org/10.2746/042516406777749164 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, Lexington, Kentucky 40580, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Abdominal Pain / epidemiology
- Abdominal Pain / etiology
- Abdominal Pain / pathology
- Abdominal Pain / veterinary
- Animals
- Anti-Inflammatory Agents / therapeutic use
- Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / therapeutic use
- Chi-Square Distribution
- Female
- Gastrointestinal Diseases / epidemiology
- Gastrointestinal Diseases / pathology
- Gastrointestinal Diseases / therapy
- Gastrointestinal Diseases / veterinary
- Gastroscopy / methods
- Gastroscopy / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / drug therapy
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horse Diseases / surgery
- Horses
- Male
- Prevalence
- Risk Factors
- Severity of Illness Index
- Stomach Ulcer / epidemiology
- Stomach Ulcer / pathology
- Stomach Ulcer / therapy
- Stomach Ulcer / veterinary
- Surgery, Veterinary / methods
- Treatment Outcome
Citations
This article has been cited 6 times.- Willette J, Guinn A, Munsterman A. Primary Jejunal Impactions Resolved via Exploratory Celiotomy in Six Horses: 2017-2023. Animals (Basel) 2025 Aug 12;15(16).
- Vokes J, Lovett A, Sykes B. Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome: An Update on Current Knowledge. Animals (Basel) 2023 Apr 5;13(7).
- Lo Feudo CM, Stucchi L, Conturba B, Stancari G, Zucca E, Ferrucci F. Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome affects fitness parameters in poorly performing Standardbred racehorses. Front Vet Sci 2022;9:1014619.
- Sykes BW, Bowen M, Habershon-Butcher JL, Green M, Hallowell GD. Management factors and clinical implications of glandular and squamous gastric disease in horses. J Vet Intern Med 2019 Jan;33(1):233-240.
- Sykes BW, Hewetson M, Hepburn RJ, Luthersson N, Tamzali Y. European College of Equine Internal Medicine Consensus Statement--Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome in Adult Horses. J Vet Intern Med 2015 Sep-Oct;29(5):1288-99.
- Walker WT, Callan RJ, Hill AE, Tisher KB. Effects of oral powder electrolyte administration on packed cell volume, plasma chemistry parameters, and incidence of colic in horses participating in a 6-day 162-km trail ride. Can Vet J 2014 Aug;55(8):765-71.
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