Publikationsdatenbank

Occurrence of Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS) in horses fed hay, hay plus oats or solely with pasture access (2024)

Art

Vortrag

Autoren

Bachmann, M.

Schusser, G. F.

Wensch-Dorendorf, M.

Kershaw, O. (WE 12)

Bochnia, M.

Pisch, C.

Santo, M. M.

Netzker, H.

Schlegel, A.

Köhler, L. M.

Woitow, G.

Heinichen, K.

Zeyner, A.

Kongress

78th Conference of the Society of Nutrition Physiology

Göttingen, 05. – 07.03.2024

Quelle

Proceedings of the Society of Nutrition Physiology : 78th Conference 05th - 07th March 2024 in Göttingen — editor: Society of Nutrition Physiology ; Redaktion: D. Kampf, S. Ausmeier (Hrsg.)

1. Auflage

Frankfurt am Main: DLG-Verlag GmbH, 2024. Proceedings of the Society of Nutrition Physiology ; 33 — S. 85

ISBN: 978-3-7690-4117-0

Sprache

Englisch

Verweise

URL (Volltext): https://gfe-frankfurt.de/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/proceedings-band-33_05022024_finaldruck_ges.pdf

Kontakt

Institut für Tierpathologie

Robert-von-Ostertag-Str. 15
14163 Berlin
+49 30 838 62450
pathologie@vetmed.fu-berlin.de

Abstract / Zusammenfassung

Introduction
Horses are adapted to feed low in energy and digestibility of nutrients. High starch doses can impair gastric health. The objective of this study was to examine effects of feeding hay ad lib. without (HAY) or with 1 or 2 g oat starch/kg body weight (BWT) offered in one meal/d (OS1 or OS2) or 24 h/d pasture (PST) on stomach mucosa.
Methods
24 horses (13 m/11 f), 11 ± 6.0 years were used. Initial BWT, body condition score and cresty neck score was 471 ± 63.4 kg, 5.1 ± 0.67/9 and 1.0 ± 0.70/5, respectively. Initial equine squamous gastric disease (ESGD) and equine glandular gastric disease (EGGD) scores (0-4 scale) were obtained by endoscopy [1, 2]. Four periods were conducted. Each period lasted 6 weeks or longer and the horses were allocated as follows: period 1: 2 (HAY), 2 (OS1), 2 (OS2); period 2: 2 (HAY), 1 (OS1), 2 (OS2); period 3: 2 (HAY), 2 (OS1), 1 (OS2); period 4: 2 (HAY), 1 (OS1), 1 (OS2), 4 (PST). HAY, OS1 and OS2 horses had daily paddock access. The pasture area was 2 ha/4 horses. After experimental feeding, horses were euthanised and dissected and stomachs were examined using ESGD and EGGD scores. Samples for histopathological examination were taken from macroscopically inconspicuous squamous and glandular mucosa and macroscopically conspicuous locations. Paraffin-embedded and HE-stained slices were examined for presence and severity, type and progression of gastritis. Statistical analysis was performed using SAS 9.4 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NY, USA). Shift in ESGD and EGGD scores along the feeding period was analysed as difference between final (dissection) and initial score (endoscopy) using a model with fixed period, ration, section and ration × section effects and random animal effect. The probability to recover from or deteriorate in EGUS was calculated. Gastritis severity, type and progression frequency was analysed using Fisher’s exact test including regular samples from inconspicuous areas and those taken from conspicuous ones. Spearman correlation was calculated between macroscopic and histopathological scores. Differences with p < 0.05 were significant.
Results
In the squamous mucosa, horses that received HAY decreased in scores by 0.63, on OS1, by 0.67 and in PST, by 2.25; on OS2, they increased a full point. In the glandular mucosa, horses on HAY, OS1 and PST decreased by 0.75, 0.67 and 1.50, respectively; those on OS2 increased by 0.40. Ration clearly affected the shift in ESGD and EGGD (p < 0.01). Slight differences were also detected among stomach sections (p = 0.036). On HAY or PST, horses had the highest probability to recover (P = 0.88 and P = 0.96, respectively), while horses fed OS2 had the highest risk for EGUS (P = 0.47; p < 0.05). In terms of gastritis, 48% had normal mucosa, 39 and 22% had mild, 9 and 22% moderate and 4 and 9% severe or massive gastritis of the squamous and glandular mucosa, respectively. Correlation between macroscopic and histopathological severity was rs = 0.68 and rs = 0.70 for squamous and glandular mucosa, respectively (p < 0.001). In the squamous mucosa, 50% of gastritis was chronic in HAY and 100% in PST; acute cases occurred 50% in HAY, 40% in OS1 and 67% in OS2 (p < 0.05). In the glandular mucosa, chronic inflammation dominated; acute cases were found in OS1 (25%) and OS2 (13%) and not in HAY or PST. Chronic gastritis was mostly lymphoplasmacytic, acute gastritis granulocytic with mostly ulcerative outcome.
Conclusion
The study underlined the importance of feeding and housing conditions for gastric health. Highest benefit clearly had horses kept on pasture, followed by ad lib. hay. The recommendation to limit concentrate feeding to 1 g starch/kg BWT/meal [3] was confirmed. Exceeding this limit worsened outcomes of both ESGD and EGGD.
Acknowledgement
Funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) – project no. 434510792. We thank Dr. S. Beuch, Nordsaat Saatzucht GmbH, Schaprode, for the support.
Bibliographical references
[1] SYKES B.W., HEWETSON M., HEPBURN R.J., LUTHERSSON N., TAMZALI Y. (2015): J. Vet. Intern. Med. 29: 1288-1299
[2] BANSE H.E., ANDREWS F.M. (2019): Vet. Med. 16: 69-76
[3] Gesellschaft für Ernährungsphysiologie (2014): Empfehlungen zur Energie- und Nährstoffversorgung von Pferden. DLG-Verlag, Frankfurt (Main)