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Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2023; 13(22); doi: 10.3390/ani13223512

Risk Factors for Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome Incidence in Adult Icelandic Riding Horses.

Abstract: A high prevalence of both squamous (ESGD) and glandular (EGGD) ulcers was previously found in, mainly young, Icelandic horses coming into training for the first time. This study evaluated risk factors for gastric ulcers in Icelandic riding horses at various ages and stages of training. The horses (n = 211) were gastroscoped from 21 equine establishments across Iceland. A variety of morphometric, clinical, behavioural and management factors were evaluated as potential risk factors for gastroscopically significant (grade ≥ 2/4: found in 27% of horses) or gastroscopically severe (grade 3 or 4/4: found in ~10% of horses) ESGD or gastroscopically significant EGGD (grade ≥ 1/2: found in 46.4%). Body condition score (BCS), cresty neck score (CNS), stable/turnout behaviour, exercise intensity/frequency and age were not significantly associated with ESGD or EGGD ulcer score. However, having come off the pasture into training for 4 weeks or less was a significant risk factor for gastroscopically significant and severe ESGD compared to 5 weeks or more. For both EGGD and ESGD, "region" was important. Gastroscopically significant EGGD and gastroscopically severe ESGD were more prevalent in those showing clinical signs often associated with ulcers. Geldings were more likely to have gastroscopically significant ESGD than both mares and stallions and more EGGD than stallions. Being stabled, but spending >2 h/day out in the paddock, compared with <2 h paddock time or full-time turnout, was protective for gastroscopically significant ESGD as was being fed complementary feed (all fed <1 g non-structural carbohydrate (NSC)/kg/BW/meal). Being at a training establishment for >4 weeks was protective for gastroscopically significant and gastroscopically severe ESGD but not EGGD. This study confirms the relatively low prevalence of ESGD in Icelandic horses being kept in training establishments and fed low NSC diets but highlights the high prevalence of EGGD.
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Publication Date: 2023-11-14 PubMed ID: 38003130PubMed Central: PMC10668649DOI: 10.3390/ani13223512Google 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 article evaluates risk factors for gastric ulcers in Icelandic riding horses. The study reveals that factors like time spent in training, the region, clinical signs often associated with ulcers, and the sex of the horse impact the incidence of ulcers. While high intensity training and low-carb diets can protect against certain forms of ulcers, these precautions do not offer complete protection and high disease prevalence persists.

Methodology

  • The study was conducted on 211 Icelandic riding horses located in 21 different equine facilities across Iceland.
  • The horses underwent gastroscoping, a procedure to examine the stomach and search for signs of ulcers.
  • Various morphometric, clinical, behavioural, and management factors were analysed to find potential risk factors for gastroscopic ulcers.

Findings

  • The study found that entering training for 4 weeks or less is a significant risk factor for severe squamous gastric ulcers compared to entering training for 5 weeks or more.
  • Regional factors play a crucial role in the incidence of both glandular and squamous ulcers.
  • Horses showing clinical signs often associated with ulcers had a higher prevalence of glandular ulcers and severe squamous ulcers.
  • Geldings (castrated male horses) were more likely to have significant squamous ulcers than both mares and stallions, and also more glandular ulcers than stallions.

Protective Factors

  • Being stabled, but spending more than 2 hours per day in the paddock, compared to less than 2 hours or full-time turnout, reduced the risk of significant squamous ulcers.
  • Feeding horses complementary feed significantly reduced the risk of squamous ulcers, provided the complementary feed contained less than 1 gram of non-structural carbohydrate per kilogram of body weight per meal.
  • Being at a training facility for more than 4 weeks significantly reduced the risk of significant and severe squamous ulcers.

Conclusions

  • The study suggests that while squamous gastric ulcers are relatively low in Icelandic horses kept in training establishments and fed low non-structural carbohydrate (NSC) diets, the prevalence of glandular ulcers remains high.
  • Therefore, current precautions such as high intensity training and low-carb diets do not offer complete protection against these types of ulcers.

Cite This Article

APA
Luthersson N, Þorgrímsdóttir ÚÝ, Harris PA, Parkin T, Hopster-Iversen C, Bennet ED. (2023). Risk Factors for Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome Incidence in Adult Icelandic Riding Horses. Animals (Basel), 13(22). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13223512

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 13
Issue: 22

Researcher Affiliations

Luthersson, Nanna
  • Hestedoktoren, Hojgaard Sjaelland ApS, Hvalsovej 298, DK-4360 Eskilstrup, Denmark.
Þorgrímsdóttir, Úndína Ýr
  • Dyrlæge ehf, Vidarás 85, 110 Reykjavík, Iceland.
Harris, Patricia A
  • Equine Studies Group, Waltham Petcare Science Institute, Melton Mowbray LE14 4RT, UK.
Parkin, Tim
  • Bristol Veterinary School, University of Bristol, Langford, Bristol BS40 5DU, UK.
Hopster-Iversen, Charlotte
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-2630 Taastrup, Denmark.
Bennet, Euan D
  • School of Biodiversity, One Health, and Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G61 1QH, UK.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Busechian S, Bindi F, Orvieto S, Zappulla F, Marchesi MC, Nisi I, Rueca F. Prevalence and Risk Factors for the Presence of Gastric Ulcers in Pleasure and Breeding Horses in Italy. Animals (Basel) 2024 Jun 17;14(12).
    doi: 10.3390/ani14121806pubmed: 38929425google scholar: lookup
  2. Busechian S, Bindi F, Pieramati C, Orvieto S, Pisello L, Cozzi S, Ortolani F, Rueca F. Is There a Difference in the Prevalence of Gastric Ulcers between Stallions Used for Breeding and Those Not Used for Breeding?. Animals (Basel) 2024 May 22;14(11).
    doi: 10.3390/ani14111531pubmed: 38891578google scholar: lookup
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