Advances in Equine Gastroenterology: Pathogenesis, Diagnosis and Treatment

About this Research Topic

Background

Although colics are among the most common clinical emergencies in equine medicine, the knowledge about diseases affecting the gastroenteric system of the horse is still limited. As a matter of fact, the investigation of the alimentary tract in the equine species presents more difficulties compared to human or other mammals, due to the great dimensions and limited available diagnostic techniques. Moreover, the impact of subclinical diseases of the gastrointestinal system on health, welfare and athletic performance is still unclear. Nevertheless, during the last decades, novel analytic tools, including omics techniques, have been developed, and may lead to a better understanding of these conditions.

Therefore, to overcome these limitations and allow an overall more efficient management of these disorders, future researches are needed. In particular, they may be addressed to :

- Better understand the pathogenetic mechanisms leading to the development of specific disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, including equine gastric ulcer syndrome, inflammatory and infiltrative diseases of the small and large intestine;

- Improve investigation techniques to obtain early and accurate diagnosis; moreover, as gastrointestinal diagnostics currently relies on invasive procedures, researchers should address their efforts to the development of rapid and non-invasive diagnostic tools;

- Develop novel therapeutic and preventive approaches, i.e. targeting the newly recognized pathogenetic mechanisms underlying these conditions.

The present Research Topic welcomes any type of manuscripts, including original research articles, case reports and reviews concerning advances in equine gastroenterology. In particular, the main areas to be included, but not exclusively limited to, are:

- The role of gut microbiome in the development and maintenance of specific gastrointestinal diseases;

- The effects of subclinical and/or chronic conditions on the welfare and sport performance of horses;

- The identification of molecular markers based on omics methods;

- The application of innovative diagnostic imaging techniques;

- The effectiveness of novel pharmacological or nutraceutical products in the prevention and treatment of specific conditions.

Keywords: equine gastroenterology, equine colic, equine gastric ulcer syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, gut microbiome

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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