The Contribution of Specific and Nonspecific Biomarkers in Diagnosis of Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS) Under Field Condition.

This study investigates the effectiveness of various biomarkers in diagnosing equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) in horses, ultimately finding that markers related to oxidative stress and inflammation are more useful than gastric-related indicators.

Study Overview

• The researchers aimed to explore the diagnostic efficiency of several biomarkers in horses with EGUS, a common condition in equines characterised by ulcers in the stomach. The tested biomarkers included gastrin and pepsinogen (digestive enzymes), proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6), and biomarkers related to oxidative stress.
• A total of 30 horses diagnosed with EGUS and 15 healthy horses were included in this study as test subjects and controls respectively.

Results

• The study found no significant changes in the serum levels of gastrin and pepsinogen in horses with EGUS as compared to healthy horses. This suggests these biomarkers have limited diagnostic value when it comes to EGUS.
• In contrast, the serum levels of TNF-α and IL-6, two proinflammatory cytokines, increased significantly in the EGUS-affected horses. These cytokines play a role in the immune response, signaling that inflammation is part of the EGUS condition.
• Oxidative stress was apparent in horses with EGUS, detected through higher levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) – a marker for oxidative stress – and decreased levels of antioxidants (total antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutase, glutathione, and nitric oxide).
• The research indicated that MDA and TNF-α, tied with oxidative stress and inflammation respectively, had better sensitivity and specificity in distinguishing EGUS horses from controls than IL-6, the other inflammation marker.

Conclusion

• Through its findings, the study concludes that, under the conditions of the study, the examination of serum gastrin and pepsinogen levels had limited value in diagnosing EGUS in horses. Meanwhile, oxidative stress appeared to be prevalent in horses with EGUS, suggesting its relation to the pathology of the disease.
• The heightened levels of proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6 also suggest their involvement in the pathogenesis of EGUS in horses.
• Overall, MDA, TNF-α, and IL-6 could potentially be utilized as biological markers for the preliminary screening of EGUS in horses. Despite these findings, gastroscopy is still recognized as the definitive diagnostic method (“gold standard”) for EGUS.