Taurine and Commerical Cat Diets

Heinze CR, Larsen JA, Kass PH et al: Plasma amino acid and whole blood taurine concentrations in cats eating commercially prepared diets, Am J Vet Res 70:1374, 2009.

The purpose of this study was to establish comprehensive reference ranges for plasma amino acid and whole body taurine concentrations in healthy adult cats eating commercial diets. Additionally, the researchers wanted to study the relationships of age, gender, body weight, body condition score (BCS), dietary protein concentration, and dietary ingredients with plasma amino acid and whole body taurine concentrations. Samples were taken and a complete health and diet history were obtained from 120 healthy adult cats. The study population consisted of cats belonging to students and faculty as well as a lesser number of university-owned cats housed in colony facilities. The investigators hypothesized that there would be associations between plasma amino acid concentrations and dietary protein concentrations and ingredients. The study did provide data on plasma amino acid and whole body taurine concentrations for a large population of adult cats fed commercial diets. Whole body taurine concentration is considered to be a more accurate measure of taurine status than plasma taurine concentration in cats and reflects the skeletal muscle concentrations more accurately. Gender and neuter status had an affect on plasma amino acid and whole body taurine concentrations where age, body weight, and BCS did not. Dietary protein concentration and dietary ingredients were not directly associated with plasma amino acid or whole blood taurine concentrations in this study. [VT]
>> PubMed Abstract

Related articles:
Wakefield L, Shofer F, Michel K: Evaluation of cats fed vegetarian diets and attitudes of their caregivers, J Amer Vet Med Assoc 229:70, 2006.
>> PubMed Abstract

Zaghini G, Biagi G: Nutritional peculiarities and diet palatability in the cat, Vet Res Commun 29 Suppl 2:39, 2005.
>> PubMed Abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
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Heinze CR, Larsen JA, Kass PH et al: Plasma amino acid and whole blood taurine concentrations in cats eating commercially prepared diets, Am J Vet Res 70:1374, 2009.

The purpose of this study was to establish comprehensive reference ranges for plasma amino acid and whole body taurine concentrations in healthy adult cats eating commercial diets. Additionally, the researchers wanted to study the relationships of age, gender, body weight, body condition score (BCS), dietary protein concentration, and dietary ingredients with plasma amino acid and whole body taurine concentrations. Samples were taken and a complete health and diet history were obtained from 120 healthy adult cats. The study population consisted of cats belonging to students and faculty as well as a lesser number of university-owned cats housed in colony facilities. The investigators hypothesized that there would be associations between plasma amino acid concentrations and dietary protein concentrations and ingredients. The study did provide data on plasma amino acid and whole body taurine concentrations for a large population of adult cats fed commercial diets. Whole body taurine concentration is considered to be a more accurate measure of taurine status than plasma taurine concentration in cats and reflects the skeletal muscle concentrations more accurately. Gender and neuter status had an affect on plasma amino acid and whole body taurine concentrations where age, body weight, and BCS did not. Dietary protein concentration and dietary ingredients were not directly associated with plasma amino acid or whole blood taurine concentrations in this study. [VT]
>> PubMed Abstract

Related articles:
Wakefield L, Shofer F, Michel K: Evaluation of cats fed vegetarian diets and attitudes of their caregivers, J Amer Vet Med Assoc 229:70, 2006.
>> PubMed Abstract

Zaghini G, Biagi G: Nutritional peculiarities and diet palatability in the cat, Vet Res Commun 29 Suppl 2:39, 2005.
>> PubMed Abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
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Latent Feline Herpesvirus Infection

Richter M, Schudel L, Tobler K et al: Clinical, virological, and immunological parameters associated with superinfection of latently with FeHV-1 infected cats, Vet Microbiol 138:205, 2009.

Feline herpesvirus (FHV) is a common respiratory and ocular pathogen of cats. It may be associated with recurrent ocular disease, even in vaccinated cats. These investigators examined the role of superinfecting FHV strains in recurrent disease. To do this, they genetically engineered a FHV strain to fluoresce, so that it could be distinguished from wild type strains of the virus. It was used to superinfect nine cats that were latently infected with a wild type strain of FHV. Active infection of the mutant virus in the inoculated cats was documented, but reactivation of the latent wild type strain did not occur. Following infection, no change in the clinical condition of the cats occurred. A rise in antibody titer and increased interferon production were noted. Thus, superinfection did induce an immune response, but was not associated with reactivation of latent virus. The authors concluded that vaccination of latently infected cats does not lead to reactivation of the latent virus, nor clinical disease. Sixteen months after superinfection, the cats were temporarily immunosuppressed, and assessed for reactivation of FHV. Mild signs were observed in all cats. Interestingly, only the wild type virus was identified; there was no evidence of mutant virus reactivation. Thus, it was not clear that the mutant virus was able to establish latency. The clinical disease observed was due to the reactivation of the latent wild type strain. The researchers continue to investigate the usefulness of this mutant marker virus to establish the pathogenesis of recurrent FHV disease. [MK]
>> PubMed Abstract

Related articles:
Weigler BJ, Babineau CA, Sherry B et al: High sensitivity polymerase chain reaction assay for active and latent feline herpesvirus-1 infections in domestic cats, Vet Rec 140:335, 1997.
>> PubMed Abstract

Thiry E, Addie D, Belak S et al: Feline herpesvirus infection. ABCD guidelines on prevention and management, J Feline Med Surg 11:547, 2009.
>> PubMed Abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
Join us on Facebook
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Richter M, Schudel L, Tobler K et al: Clinical, virological, and immunological parameters associated with superinfection of latently with FeHV-1 infected cats, Vet Microbiol 138:205, 2009.

Feline herpesvirus (FHV) is a common respiratory and ocular pathogen of cats. It may be associated with recurrent ocular disease, even in vaccinated cats. These investigators examined the role of superinfecting FHV strains in recurrent disease. To do this, they genetically engineered a FHV strain to fluoresce, so that it could be distinguished from wild type strains of the virus. It was used to superinfect nine cats that were latently infected with a wild type strain of FHV. Active infection of the mutant virus in the inoculated cats was documented, but reactivation of the latent wild type strain did not occur. Following infection, no change in the clinical condition of the cats occurred. A rise in antibody titer and increased interferon production were noted. Thus, superinfection did induce an immune response, but was not associated with reactivation of latent virus. The authors concluded that vaccination of latently infected cats does not lead to reactivation of the latent virus, nor clinical disease. Sixteen months after superinfection, the cats were temporarily immunosuppressed, and assessed for reactivation of FHV. Mild signs were observed in all cats. Interestingly, only the wild type virus was identified; there was no evidence of mutant virus reactivation. Thus, it was not clear that the mutant virus was able to establish latency. The clinical disease observed was due to the reactivation of the latent wild type strain. The researchers continue to investigate the usefulness of this mutant marker virus to establish the pathogenesis of recurrent FHV disease. [MK]
>> PubMed Abstract

Related articles:
Weigler BJ, Babineau CA, Sherry B et al: High sensitivity polymerase chain reaction assay for active and latent feline herpesvirus-1 infections in domestic cats, Vet Rec 140:335, 1997.
>> PubMed Abstract

Thiry E, Addie D, Belak S et al: Feline herpesvirus infection. ABCD guidelines on prevention and management, J Feline Med Surg 11:547, 2009.
>> PubMed Abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
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Follow us on Twitter

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