title: Determination of the prevalence of whole blood taurine in Irish wolfhound dogs with and without echocardiographic evidence of dilated cardiomyopathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Taurine plays an important role in maintaining myocardial function. Irish wolfhound dogs (IW) are at risk for dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), but a relationship between whole blood taurine (WBT) deficiency and DCM has not been established. Our aim was to determine prevalence of WBT deficiency in IW with and without DCM and assess its association with diet.
  
  
  METHODS
  115 privately owned IW.
  
  
  METHODS
  Whole blood taurine was measured in IW that received cardiovascular examination. Dietary history was recorded; crude protein and energy intake were estimated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-nine (42.6%) had DCM; 66 (57.4%) had no DCM. Dogs with DCM were older ([median; inter-quartile range or IQR] 5.3; 4.3, 6.2 years) than dogs without heart disease (3; 2, 4 years; P < 0.001). There was no significant relationship between WBT concentration and age (P = 0.64). Whole blood taurine was severely reduced (<130 nmol/mL) in 8 dogs (4 with and 4 without DCM) and moderately reduced (130-179.9 nmol/mL) in 32 dogs (12 with DCM and 20 without DCM). Follow up of dogs without DCM revealed that a higher proportion of dogs with any degree of WBT deficiency developed DCM later compared to dogs with normal WBT (P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Whole blood taurine deficiency occurred in IW with and without DCM. Based on taurine measurement on a single occasion, there was no clear relationship between low WBT and presence of DCM in this population. Regardless of WBT, DCM affected predominantly older dogs, suggesting a relatively late onset disease in the IW.
authors: Small Animal Veterinary Clinics, 53225 Bonn, Germany; Small Animal Veterinary Clinics, 57537 Wissen, Germany.
authors: Andrea C
authors: AC
authors: Vollmar
authors: Philip R
authors: PR
authors: Fox
authors: Eric
authors: E
authors: Servet
authors: Vincent
authors: V
authors: Biourge
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis / Q000592:standards; D000818:Animals; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000662:veterinary*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004285:Dogs; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013654:Taurine / Q000097:blood* / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D013654:Taurine
keywords: Canine; Cardiomyopathy; Nutrition