The Prevalence of Gastric Ulcer Syndrome in 395 Horses in Jiangyin City, China, Jiangsu Province
by
, ,
Kairen Zhou
1,†,
Zhen Dong
1,2,†
,
Xuzheng Zhou
1,
Bintao Zhai
1
,
Bing Li
1,
Jiyu Zhang
1,* and
Fusheng Cheng
1,* 1
Key Laboratory of New Animal Drug Project of Gansu Province, Key Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmaceutical Development, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Lanzhou 730050, China
2
National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center for the Creation of Traditional Chinese Medicine Resources and Veterinary Drugs, Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Animals 2024, 14(24), 3636; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14243636
Submission received: 26 September 2024
/
Revised: 13 December 2024
/
Accepted: 15 December 2024
/
Published: 17 December 2024
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Internal Medicine in Equids)
Simple Summary
This study describes the prevalence of equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) in horses depending on their age, breed, and job nature. Gastroscopies performed on 395 horses at a horse farm in Jiangyin City revealed differences in the ulcer site depending on horse age and breed site, as well as differences in ulcer incidence and severity, depending on the nature of their work. The findings provide valuable data for managing and preventing EGUS on this horse farm.
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and association of EGUS in horses of different ages, breeds and occupations. Gastroscopies were performed on 395 horses, and gastric ulcers were graded on a scoring system from 0 to 4. The relationship between age, breed, and work, along with the prevalence of gastric ulcers and their influences, were evaluated. The prevalence rate of ulcers in this herd was 78%. Older horses were prone to ulcers in both the glandular and squamous mucosal areas. Across the different jobs surveyed, 60% of the horses had a score of 2 or above. For the horses participating in more intense jobs (group performances, pulling carts, etc.), the number of horses with an ulcer score of 2 or above exceeded 50% of the total number of horses in this job. The prevalence of gastric ulcers was high, and these ulcers were severe in the horses belonging to the examined club, with no association between age or breed and the prevalence of ulcers; however, there was a difference in the location of the ulcers between breeds, as well as differences in the incidence and severity of ulcers depending on work activity. This study provides data reference values for the control and prevention of gastric ulcers in horses in this horse farm.
