Pathology of gastritis and gastric ulceration in the horse. Part 2: a scoring system.
Authors: Martineau H, Thompson H, Taylor D
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
Gastric ulceration affects a substantial proportion of racehorses in training, yet whilst gross lesion assessment protocols exist, no standardised approach for evaluating microscopic gastric pathology has been established in equine practice—a significant limitation when attempting to identify disease aetiologies and compare findings across research studies. Martineau, Thompson and Taylor addressed this gap by developing a histological scoring system for equine gastritis and gastric ulceration, based on systematic examination of microscopic tissue changes. The system provides practitioners and researchers with a consistent framework for classifying mucosal inflammation, ulcer depth, epithelial regeneration, and other microscopic features, enabling reliable documentation of gastric disease severity and type. Having a standardised histological protocol comparable to those used in human gastroenterology strengthens the ability to recognise whether ulceration arises from recognised causes (such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use or stress) or potentially emerging aetiologies. For equine vets involved in performance horse medicine, this scoring system offers a practical tool for research and clinical correlation, ultimately supporting more targeted diagnosis and management of gastric disease in horses under training.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Veterinarians should be aware that while gross lesion scoring exists for equine gastric ulceration, microscopic findings lack standardised classification, limiting disease understanding and research comparison
- •Implementation of a standardised histological scoring protocol would improve diagnosis of underlying causes of gastric disease and support evidence-based treatment protocols
- •Given high prevalence in racehorses, adoption of consistent scoring systems across practices and studies would enhance detection of emerging gastric pathologies and aetiologies
Key Findings
- •No fixed protocol exists for recording gastric microscopic findings in horses despite high prevalence of gastric ulceration in racehorses in training
- •A histological classification system for stomach lesions would enable identification of recognised and emerging aetiologies of gastric disease in horses
- •Development of a standardised scoring system would improve accuracy of comparison between studies and clinical findings