Taurine: An essential nutrient for the cat. A brief review of the biochemistry of its requirement and the clinical consequences of deficiency

Markwell, Peter J.; Earle, Kay E.

doi:10.1016/0271-5317(95)91652-s

Cited by 17 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Taurine is an essential amino acid in felids and deficiencies can cause progressive retinal atrophy, cardiomyopathy, and lower reproductive success [Markwell and Earle, ]. Taurine‐responsive retinopathies have been reported in the captive cheetah [Ofri et al, ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Blood values of adult captive cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) fed either supplemented beef or whole rabbit carcasses

et al. 2011

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This study evaluated nutrient intake and relevant blood parameters of 14 captive cheetahs, randomly assigned to a meat-only diet (supplemented beef, SB) or a whole prey diet (whole rabbit, WR) for 4 weeks each. Despite a higher food intake, daily metabolizable energy intake was lower when fed WR (308 kJ BW(-1) ) compared with SB (347 kJ BW(-1) ) (P = 0.002). The ratio of protein to fat was markedly lower for WR (2.3:1) compared with SB (8.8:1), which was reflected in higher serum urea levels when fed SB (P = 0.033), and a tendency for elevated cholesterol levels when fed WR (P = 0.055). Taurine intake of cheetahs fed WR was low (0.06% on DM basis); however, analytical error during taurine analysis cannot be ruled out. Feeding WR resulted in a well-balanced mineral intake, in contrast to SB. The latter provided a low calcium:phosphorus ratio (1:2.3), thereby increasing the risk of metabolic bone disease. The high zinc content of SB (200 mg/kg DM), compared with WR (94 mg/kg DM), was reflected in higher serum zinc concentrations (P = 0.011). Feeding WR resulted in an increase in serum vitamin A (P = 0.011). Therefore, the risk of hypervitaminosis A in captive cheetahs when fed WR exclusively on a long-term basis should be evaluated. Our findings suggest that neither diet is likely to provide appropriate nutrition to captive cheetahs when fed exclusively.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Blood values of adult captive cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) fed either supplemented beef or whole rabbit carcasses

et al. 2011

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“…As will be discussed later, alterations of all these physiological functions can also be observed in diabetic patients. Consequently, it was found that taurine is an essential nutrient for the cat since taurine biosynthesis in the cat is very limited [3,[24][25][26][27]. Today, taurine is added to most commercially available cat food to make the total content of taurine about 0.05%.…”

Section: The Catmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Rodents such as the rat [21] and the mouse [22] have very high biosynthetic capacities of taurine, whereas biosynthesis is limited in man with a very slow turnover rate [21,23] and almost absent in the cat [3,[24][25][26][27].…”

Section: Biosynthesis Of Taurinementioning

confidence: 99%

The role of taurine in diabetes and the development of diabetic complications

Hansen

2001

Diabetes Metabolism Res

242

157

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The ubiquitously found beta-amino acid taurine has several physiological functions, e.g. in bile acid formation, as an osmolyte by cell volume regulation, in the heart, in the retina, in the formation of N-chlorotaurine by reaction with hypochlorous acid in leucocytes, and possibly for intracellular scavenging of carbonyl groups. Some animals, such as the cat and the C57BL/6 mouse, have disturbances in taurine homeostasis. The C57BL/6 mouse strain is widely used in diabetic and atherosclerotic animal models. In diabetes, the high extracellular levels of glucose disturb the cellular osmoregulation and sorbitol is formed intracellularly due to the intracellular polyol pathway, which is suspected to be one of the key processes in the development of diabetic late complications and associated cellular dysfunctions. Intracellular accumulation of sorbitol is most likely to cause depletion of other intracellular compounds including osmolytes such as myo-inositol and taurine. When considering the clinical complications in diabetes, several links can be established between altered taurine metabolism and the development of cellular dysfunctions in diabetes which cause the clinical complications observed in diabetes, e.g. retinopathy, neuropathy, nephropathy, cardiomyopathy, platelet aggregation, endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis. Possible therapeutic perspectives could be a supplementation with taurine and other osmolytes and low-molecular compounds, perhaps in a combinational therapy with aldose reductase inhibitors.

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“…Cats have a limited ability to synthesize taurine; therefore, a dietary source is required. Cats on a taurine-deficient diet exhibit resorption or abortion of fetuses, an increased incidence of near-term fetal death and kittens with low birth weights [50,51]. Commercial diets that are certified by the American association of feed control officials (AAFCO) contain adequate amounts of taurine.…”

Section: Dietmentioning

confidence: 99%

Clinical management of pregnancy in cats

Kustritz

2006

Theriogenology

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Average gestation length in domestic cats is 65.6 days, with a range of 52-74 days. Average reported litter size is 4.0 kittens per litter; litter size is not correlated with number of matings in a given estrus. Superfecundation is common in domestic cats; superfetation never has been definitively proven to occur. Eclampsia may occur during pregnancy in queens, with non-specific clinical signs. Ectopic pregnancy and uterine torsion have been reported. Pregnancy loss may be due to infectious causes, including bacteria, viruses or protozoa, or non-infectious causes, such as hypoluteoidism and chromosome errors.

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Taurine: An essential nutrient for the cat. A brief review of the biochemistry of its requirement and the clinical consequences of deficiency

Cited by 17 publications

References 14 publications

Blood values of adult captive cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) fed either supplemented beef or whole rabbit carcasses

Blood values of adult captive cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) fed either supplemented beef or whole rabbit carcasses

The role of taurine in diabetes and the development of diabetic complications

Clinical management of pregnancy in cats

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