EGUS Flashcards
What is EGUS?
EGUS is an umbrella term used to describe erosive and ulcerative diseases of the equine stomach.
What are the two primary conditions encompassed by EGUS?
Equine Squamous Gastric Disease (ESGD)
Equine Glandular Gastric Disease (EGGD)
What is ESGD?
Ulceration affecting the squamous mucosa of the stomach.
What are the subclasses of ESGD?
Primary ESGD
Secondary ESGD
What characterizes Primary ESGD?
Occurs without any underlying gastrointestinal abnormalities.
Often associated with factors such as diet, management, and exercise.
What characterizes Secondary ESGD?
Occurs due to delayed gastric outflow caused by anatomical or functional abnormalities.
Examples include pyloric stenosis or other forms of gastric retention.
What is EGGD?
Ulceration affecting the glandular mucosa of the stomach.
What factors are suggested to contribute to the pathogenesis of EGGD?
Breakdown of mucosal defences.
Possible contributions from NSAID use.
Bacterial infections.
Stress and other physiological stressors.
Why is EGGD not currently subclassified further?
The pathogenesis of EGGD is unclear, preventing further subclassification.
What does EGUS represent?
A spectrum of erosive and ulcerative diseases affecting different regions of the equine stomach.
Why is differentiating between ESGD and EGGD essential?
It is crucial for understanding the underlying causes and appropriate treatment strategies.
What is typically seen in Primary ESGD?
Horses with no other gastrointestinal abnormalities.
What is strongly associated with Primary ESGD?
Management practices, such as feeding regimes and exercise intensity.
What is the pathophysiology of Primary ESGD?
Involves increased exposure of the squamous mucosa to gastric acid.
What are the risk factors for Primary ESGD?
Periods of fasting or intermittent feeding.
High-grain diets leading to increased gastric acid production.
Intense exercise that may cause acid splash onto the squamous mucosa.
What causes Secondary ESGD?
Conditions that cause delayed gastric outflow.
What are common causes of Secondary ESGD?
Anatomical abnormalities like pyloric stenosis.
What results from Secondary ESGD?
Prolonged exposure of the squamous mucosa to gastric acid.
How is the pathogenesis of EGGD compared to ESGD?
It is less understood compared to ESGD.
What mechanisms are proposed for EGGD?
What mechanisms are proposed for EGGD?
What factors may contribute to EGGD?
NSAID usage disrupting the protective mechanisms of the glandular mucosa.
Bacterial infections, particularly Helicobacter species, although conclusive evidence in horses is lacking.
Stress, which may alter gastric blood flow and mucus production, contributing to ulcer formation.
What research gaps exist for EGGD?
Further studies are needed to elucidate the exact mechanisms.
Investigation into the role of specific bacteria, the impact of stress, and the effectiveness of various treatments.
What percentage of untrained Thoroughbred racehorses are affected by ESGD?
Approximately 37% of untrained Thoroughbred racehorses.
What does the prevalence of ESGD in untrained Thoroughbreds indicate?
It indicates that some level of ulceration can occur even before training begins, likely due to management and feeding practices.
What is the prevalence of ESGD in Thoroughbred racehorses within 2-3 months of the start of race training?
The prevalence rises dramatically to between 80-100%.
What does the high prevalence of ESGD during training underscore?
The significant impact of intense physical activity and associated management practices on the development of squamous gastric ulcers.
What is the initial prevalence of ESGD in Standardbred racehorses before training?
Around 44%.
How does the prevalence of ESGD change during the training period for Standardbreds?
It increases to 87%.
What does the increase in ESGD prevalence during training for Standardbreds highlight?
The role of exercise and training-related stress in ulcer development.
What is the prevalence of ESGD in endurance horses during the off-season?
Approximately 48%.
What does the off-season prevalence of ESGD in endurance horses suggest?
Endurance horses are at risk of ulceration even when not actively competing, possibly due to ongoing management factors.
What is the prevalence of ESGD in endurance horses during competition?
Ranges from 66-93%.
What does the increased prevalence of ESGD during competition periods indicate?
The additional stress and physiological demands placed on horses during long-distance events.
What is the prevalence of EGGD in leisure and sport horses?
Ranges from 54-64%.
What does the prevalence of EGGD in leisure and sport horses indicate?
Glandular gastric disease is a significant concern in horses not engaged in high-intensity racing or endurance activities, suggesting the influence of diet, management, and possibly stress.
What is the prevalence of EGGD in Australian Thoroughbreds?
Ranges from 47-65%.
What does the prevalence of EGGD in Australian Thoroughbreds emphasize?
EGGD is a common condition in Thoroughbreds globally, not just in high-performance athletes.
What do differences in ulcer prevalence between disciplines highlight?
The impact of the type and intensity of activity on the development of gastric ulcers.
Which horses show the highest prevalence of ESGD?
Racehorses (both Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds).
What does the high prevalence of ESGD in racehorses suggest?
The high-intensity, high-stress environment of race training and competition.
What do endurance horses demonstrate about the impact of physical exertion?
High prevalence during competition indicates the impact of prolonged physical exertion over long distances.
What do significant rates of EGGD in leisure and sport horses implicate?
Factors such as diet and general management practices.
What does the consistency in prevalence rates across different regions suggest?
Fundamental aspects of equine management, diet, and training are universally influential in the development of gastric ulcers.
What adjustments could be critical in reducing the incidence of EGUS?
Adjustments in training intensity, feeding practices, and stress management.
Why is regular monitoring for signs of EGUS crucial?
Particularly in high-risk populations such as racehorses and endurance horses.
What preventive measures could help mitigate high prevalence rates of EGUS?
Dietary adjustments, acid suppressive therapy, and stress reduction strategies.
What did the postmortem study of 3,715 horses over 72 years find regarding breed and ulceration?
Thoroughbred and Standardbred breeds are more likely to have ulcers than cold-blooded horses.
What did the postmortem study find regarding sex and ulceration?
Stallions had a higher prevalence of ulcers compared to mares and geldings.
What did two large cross-sectional studies find about the likelihood of ESGD in Thoroughbred racehorses?
No significant effect of age or sex on the likelihood of having ESGD.
What association was found between ESGD and age in Standardbred racehorses?
No association with the presence of ESGD, but increasing age was associated with worsening ulcer severity, especially in geldings.
What were the findings of the retrospective study of 684 sport and leisure horses in the UK?
No effect of age, sex, or month of presentation on the prevalence of ESGD or EGGD. A significant association between the Thoroughbred breed and the presence of ESGD in horses of any age was found.
What are the implications of the findings regarding breed and sex?
Factors like intensity or duration of exercise may outweigh potential age or sex effects. Thoroughbreds may be predisposed to ESGD, indicating a breed-specific risk.
How can trainers and the location of training yards influence ESGD risk?
Horses trained in urban areas are 3.9 times more likely to have gastric ulcers compared to those in rural areas.
What social and environmental factors increase the risk of ESGD?
Lack of direct contact with other horses, solid barriers instead of rails, and preference for talk radio over music radio in barns.
Feeding which forage is associated with an increased risk of EGUS?
Straw feeding.
How does lack of water access in the paddock affect the risk of EGUS?
Increases the risk of EGUS.
What is the general consensus on pasture turnout for reducing EGUS risk?
Generally considered to reduce the risk, but evidence is conflicting.