Assessment of Salivary Biomarkers of Gastric Ulcer in Horses from a Clinical Perspective
Authors: M. Matas-Quintanilla, L. Whitacre, I. R. Ipharraguerre, Cándido Gutiérrez-Panizo, A.M. Gutiérrez
Journal: Animals : an Open Access Journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome remains a significant clinical challenge, with gastroscopy currently the only reliable diagnostic method—a procedure that is invasive, expensive, and impractical for routine screening across many populations. Researchers validated immunoassays to measure five salivary biomarkers (IL1-F5, prostaglandin IP, carbonic anhydrase VI, serotransferrin, and albumin) in horses with confirmed EGUS status (determined by gastroscopy), including both symptomatic and subclinical cases, comparing results to healthy controls. Significantly lower concentrations of IL1-F5, CA VI, serotransferrin, and albumin distinguished horses without EGUS from those with clinical signs of ulceration, with these four markers demonstrating moderate diagnostic accuracy (AUC ≥0.8) for differentiation between health states. These findings present a compelling case for non-invasive salivary screening as a practical tool for identifying at-risk horses and prioritising gastroscopic examination, whilst potentially enabling longitudinal monitoring of ulcer status and treatment response without repeated endoscopy. For practitioners managing performance horses, breeding stock, and racehorses—populations known for high EGUS prevalence—a validated saliva test could facilitate earlier intervention and more targeted therapeutic protocols.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Saliva testing could eventually replace or reduce the need for gastroscopy as a screening tool for EGUS in horses with suspected ulcers, reducing cost and invasiveness
- •These biomarkers may help identify horses with subclinical EGUS (no obvious clinical signs), allowing earlier intervention before performance issues develop
- •Non-invasive saliva sampling could facilitate regular monitoring of EGUS status during treatment and management changes without repeated gastroscopic procedures
Key Findings
- •Five salivary biomarkers (IL1-F5, PIP, CA VI, serotransferrin, albumin) can be measured in horse saliva with high precision and accuracy using validated immunoassays
- •IL1-F5, CA VI, serotransferrin, and albumin showed significantly lower levels in horses without EGUS compared to horses with clinical EGUS
- •Four biomarkers demonstrated moderate to good accuracy (AUC ≥ 0.8) for differentiating between EGUS and non-EGUS horses
- •Salivary biomarker testing offers a potential non-invasive alternative screening method to gastroscopy for EGUS diagnosis and monitoring