Prevalence and detection of equine gastric ulcer syndrome (egus) in high-performance horses in Terengganu, Malaysia

This study investigates the prevalence of EGUS in high-performance horses participating in 120 km endurance races in Terengganu, Malaysia. Gastroscopic examination revealed a 55.6% prevalence of EGUS, predominantly in Equine Squamous Gastric Disease (ESGD). As endurance horses are highly susceptible to gastric ulceration due to intensive training, feeding patterns, and physiological stress, this research aims to provide baseline data on the occurrence of EGUS within this specific athletic population. A total of nine horses were examined via gastroscopy. Lesions were evaluated and graded according to the EGUS Council scoring system for Equine Squamous Gastric Disease (ESGD) and Equine Glandular Gastric Disease (EGGD). The findings revealed that 5 out of 9 horses (55.6%) were positive for EGUS, with ESGD being more prevalent than EGGD. Three horses exhibited combined ESGD and EGGD, while two horses demonstrated squamous ulceration only. The remaining four horses showed no visible lesions. Factors such as recent high-intensity racing and previous gastric issues appeared to correlate with ulcer presence, although the small sample size limited statistical analysis. There are limited studies on equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) in Malaysia, highlighting the need for routine screening, improved management strategies, and further research with larger sample populations.