Prevalence of gastric ulcers in horses from the French Republican Guard cavalry regiment and association with plasma gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity

Abstract

Equine gastric ulceration syndrome (EGUS) is a common condition, affecting both glandular (EGGD) and squamous (ESGD) mucosa of the stomach. It has a high prevalence, particularly in racehorses and sport horses, causing clinical signs from poor performance to colic. Gastroscopy, the reference standard diagnostic method, is expensive, prompting the search for alternative tests. Previous studies noted changes in blood markers, including elevated gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) activity in ulcerated horses. This study aimed to report the prevalence of EGUS in sport horses and evaluate the association of plasma GGT activity to a diagnosis of EGUS. Fifty-nine horses, with and without EGUS clinical signs, from a cavalry regiment underwent gastroscopy and plasma biochemical analysis. EGUS, ESGD, and EGGD were found in 88 % (95 % confidence interval (95CI); 80 – 96 %), 80 % (95CI, 69 - 90), and 42 % (95CI, 30 - 55), respectively. A significant association was noted between EGUS prevalence and the squadron of the horse but not between EGUS or any of its components and plasma GGT activity. Horses affected by EGGD had higher average GGT activity (28.2 IU/L vs. 9.7 IU/L). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis suggested a plasma GGT threshold of 21 IU/L for diagnosing EGGD (sensitivity and specificity of 80 % and 100 % respectively). However, some limitations were identified in this study including sample size, failure to visualise the pylori in some horses and body condition score as a confounding factor. Further studies are needed to evaluate the potential of plasma GGT activity in supporting a diagnosis of EGUS.