Evaluation of a Comprehensive Profile of Salivary Analytes for the Diagnosis of the Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome.
Authors: Muñoz-Prieto Alberto, Cerón José J, Rubio Camila P, Contreras-Aguilar María Dolores, Pardo-Marín Luis, Ayala-de la Peña Ignacio, Martín-Cuervo María, Holm Henriksen Ida-Marie, Arense-Gonzalo Julián J, Tecles Fernando, Hansen Sanni
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Salivary Biomarkers in Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome Researchers evaluated whether salivary analytes could serve as non-invasive diagnostic markers for equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS), a condition that remains difficult to diagnose definitively without gastroscopy. The study measured 23 salivary biomarkers across 147 horses: 12 healthy controls, 110 with gastroscopically-confirmed EGUS, and 25 with clinically similar but negative diagnoses. Of the analytes tested, 17 showed elevated levels in EGUS-affected horses compared to healthy animals, with uric acid, triglycerides, and calcium demonstrating statistically significant increases in EGUS cases versus horses with other conditions. Whilst individual markers showed only modest discriminatory power, combining these three analytes substantially improved diagnostic accuracy. The findings suggest that a salivary biomarker panel could complement or potentially reduce reliance on gastroscopy, particularly helpful for practitioners managing suspected EGUS cases where endoscopic examination is impractical or as a screening tool—though further validation would be needed before routine clinical implementation.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •A salivary panel combining uric acid, triglycerides, and calcium offers a non-invasive alternative to gastroscopy for supporting EGUS diagnosis in horses with compatible clinical signs
- •While individual salivary analytes have modest diagnostic value, multi-analyte profiling may help differentiate EGUS from other conditions presenting with similar symptoms, reducing unnecessary invasive procedures
- •This approach could be particularly valuable for initial screening or monitoring suspected EGUS cases, though gastroscopy remains the gold standard for definitive diagnosis
Key Findings
- •17 of 23 salivary analytes showed significantly increased values in EGUS horses compared to healthy controls
- •Uric acid, triglycerides, and calcium were significantly elevated in EGUS horses versus horses with similar clinical signs but negative gastroscopy
- •Individual analytes showed modest discriminatory power for EGUS diagnosis, but combined analysis of all three analytes enhanced diagnostic accuracy
- •Salivary biomarkers demonstrate potential as non-invasive diagnostic aids for EGUS identification