Macroscopic and histopathological description of gastric lesions in horse, donkey, and mule fetuses in the last trimester of gestation.
Authors: Medina-Bolívar Angie Lorena, Faleiros Rafael Resende, Martínez-Aranzales José Ramon
Journal: Journal of veterinary internal medicine
Summary
# Editorial Summary Gastric pathology in neonatal equines remains poorly characterised, with particular gaps in our understanding of lesions present during fetal development. Researchers examined stomachs from 46 equid fetuses (21 horses, 21 donkeys, and 4 mules) collected during the third trimester of gestation, documenting macroscopic appearance, histopathological changes, gastric fluid pH, and organ measurements. All fetuses demonstrated gastric lesions—classified macroscopically as hyperaemic, punctate, or erosive—with histological evidence of chronic inflammatory processes despite the intrauterine environment; notably, mules had significantly larger stomachs and greater weights than horses (P<.05), whilst all gastric contents maintained a pH above 5.8. These findings establish that preulcerous lesions are a normal developmental feature in equid fetuses by the third trimester, suggesting that gastric mucosal pathology begins before birth rather than developing solely in response to postnatal stressors such as feed changes or stress. Understanding this baseline fetal pathology is crucial for neonatal practitioners interpreting early gastric disease and may inform preventative strategies during the peripartum period and early neonatal life.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Gastric lesions and inflammation are present before birth in equids, suggesting neonatal gastric disease may have intrauterine origins rather than purely post-birth causes
- •Awareness of preulcerous lesion prevalence in fetuses may guide perinatology and neonatology management strategies for at-risk neonatal foals
- •Species differences (mules vs. horses) in gastric development should be considered when evaluating fetal and neonatal presentations
Key Findings
- •Macroscopic gastric lesions (hyperemic, punctate, and erosive) were present in 46 equid fetuses during the third trimester of gestation
- •Histopathological examination revealed chronic inflammatory processes in gastric mucosae of fetal horses, donkeys, and mules
- •Mules had significantly larger stomachs and higher weights compared with horses (P < 0.05)
- •All gastric contents had pH > 5.8, indicating an alkaline intrauterine environment