Changes in Immunoglobulins G and A in the Saliva and Serum of Horses with Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS) and Their Relationship with Other Immune and Redox Status Biomarkers
Authors: M. Botía, María Martín-Cuervo, S. Martínez-Subiela, J. Cerón, Ignacio Ayala, S. Hansen, A. Muñoz-Prieto
Journal: Biology
Summary
Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome remains diagnostically challenging due to its vague clinical presentation and current reliance on endoscopy, making non-invasive biomarker discovery particularly valuable for equine practitioners. Researchers measured immunoglobulins A and G in both saliva and serum samples from horses with confirmed EGUS (via endoscopy) and healthy controls, alongside additional immune and oxidative stress markers including adenosine deaminase activity. Affected horses exhibited significantly elevated salivary IgA concentrations compared to controls, with these elevations correlating meaningfully with other systemic immune markers, mirroring patterns observed in human gastric ulcer disease where IgA contributes to mucosal defence mechanisms. These findings suggest that mucosal immune dysfunction plays a substantive role in EGUS pathogenesis and indicate that salivary IgA warrants further investigation as a practical, stress-free diagnostic or monitoring tool. For equine professionals, this work supports the development of saliva-based screening protocols that could identify at-risk horses or track therapeutic response without the invasiveness, cost, and stress associated with endoscopic examination.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Salivary IgA may develop into a practical non-invasive screening tool for EGUS, avoiding the stress and cost of endoscopy for preliminary diagnosis
- •Elevated salivary IgA appears to reflect immune dysfunction in EGUS, suggesting immune support strategies may warrant investigation alongside traditional management
- •Saliva sampling is feasible on working horses without sedation or stress, making it suitable for field-based monitoring of at-risk individuals
Key Findings
- •Horses with EGUS showed significantly elevated salivary IgA concentrations compared to healthy controls
- •Salivary IgA levels correlated with other immune biomarkers including adenosine deaminase, suggesting systemic immune involvement
- •Changes in immunoglobulin composition were detectable in both saliva and serum of affected horses
- •Saliva collection provides a non-invasive, stress-free alternative to serum sampling for EGUS biomarker assessment