Taurine deficiency syndrome in cats.
Taurine deficiency occurs in a large number of cats fed unfortified commercial diets. Deficiency arises because cats are unable to absorb all the taurine in processed diets and/or are unable to synthesize the deficit between absorption and requirement, which makes taurine an essential amino acid for cats. Taurine-depleted cats develop retinal degeneration, cardiomyopathy, altered white-cell function, and abnormal growth and development. Taurine deficiency is best estimated from the plasma-taurine concentration, with values less than 30 mumol/l considered deficient.
Hayes
K C
KC
Foster Biomedical Research Laboratory, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02254.
Trautwein
E A
EA
D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D002415:Cats; D013577:Syndrome / Q000662:veterinary; D013654:Taurine / Q000172:deficiency*
D013654:Taurine