Article,
Measurement of Trace Elements (Zinc, Copper, Magnesium, and Iron) in the Saliva of Horses: Validation Data and Changes in Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS)
Contributors
Muñoz-Prieto, Alberto
0000-0001-6865-8712
(Corresponding author)
[1]
[2]
Cerón, José Joaquín
0000-0002-8654-1793
[1]
[2]
Tecles, Fernando
0000-0002-7635-533X
[1]
[2]
Cuervo, María Martín
0000-0002-4169-5318
[3]
Contreras-Aguilar, María Dolores
0000-0003-2898-0410
[1]
[2]
Ayala, Ignacio
0000-0002-0335-482X
[1]
[2]
Pardo-Marín, Luis
0000-0001-5398-1162
[1]
[2]
Hansen, Sanni
0000-0002-2012-3388
[4]
Affiliations
- [1] Interdisciplinary Laboratory of Clinical Analysis (Interlab-UMU), Regional Campus of International Excellence ‘Campus Mare Nostrum’, University of Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain;, jjceron@um.es, (J.J.C.);, ftecles@um.es, (F.T.);, mariadolores.contreras@um.es, (M.D.C.-A.);, iayape@um.es, (I.A.);, adrian.oudada@um.es, (A.O.-G.);, lpm1@um.es, (L.P.-M.)
- [2] University of Murcia [NORA names: Spain; Europe, EU; OECD];
- [3] University of Extremadura [NORA names: Spain; Europe, EU; OECD];
- [4] University of Copenhagen [NORA names: KU University of Copenhagen; University; Denmark; Europe, EU; Nordic; OECD]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate the possible use of spectrophotometric assays for the measurement of trace elements, including Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu), Magnesium (Mg), and iron (Fe) in the saliva of horses and study their possible changes in equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS). EGUS is a highly prevalent disease, with a current high incidence due to the increase in intensive management conditions. There are two EGUS diseases: equine squamous gastric disease (ESGD) and equine glandular gastric disease (EGGD), which can appear individually or together. For this purpose, automated spectrophotometric assays for measuring these analytes in horse saliva were analytically validated. Then, these analytes were measured in the saliva of horses with only ESGD, only EGGD, both ESGD and EGGD and a group of healthy horses. The methods used to measure the analytes were precise and accurate. Horses diagnosed with EGGD presented significantly lower levels of Zn and Mg. Fe concentrations were significantly lower in the saliva of horses with ESGD and EGGD. Overall, these results indicate that there are changes in trace elements in saliva in EGUS that could reflect the physiopathological mechanisms involved in this process and open the possibility of using trace elements as biomarkers of this syndrome.
