title: Bisphenol A (BPA) in the serum of pet dogs following short-term consumption of canned dog food and potential health consequences of exposure to BPA.
abstract: Bisphenol A (BPA) is a widely present endocrine disruptor chemical found in many household items. Moreover, this chemical can bioaccumulate in various terrestrial and aquatic sources; thereby ensuring continual exposure of animals and humans. For most species, including humans, diet is considered the primary route of exposure. However, there has been little investigation whether commercial-brands of dog foods contain BPA and potential health ramifications of BPA-dietary exposure in dogs. We sought to determine BPA content within dog food, whether short-term consumption of these diets increases serum concentrations of BPA, and potential health consequences, as assessed by potential hematological, serum chemistry, cortisol, DNA methylation, and gut microbiome changes, in dogs associated with short-term dietary exposure to BPA. Fourteen healthy privately-owned dogs were used in this study. Blood and fecal samples were collected prior to dogs being placed for two-weeks on one of two diets (with one considered to be BPA-free), and blood and fecal samples were collected again. Serum/plasma samples were analyzed for chemistry and hematology profiles, cortisol concentrations, 5-methylcytosine in lymphocytes, and total BPA concentrations. Fecal samples were used for microbiome assessments. Both diets contained BPA, and after two-weeks of being on either diet, dogs had a significant increase in circulating BPA concentrations (pre-samples=0.7±0.15ng/mL, post-samples=2.2±0.15ng/mL, p<0.0001). Elevated BPA concentrations positively correlated with increased plasma bicarbonate concentrations and associated with fecal microbiome alterations. Short-term feeding of canned dog food increased circulating BPA concentrations in dogs comparable to amounts detected in humans, and greater BPA concentrations were associated with serum chemistry and microbiome changes. Dogs, who share our internal and external environments with us, are likely excellent indicators of potential human health concerns to BPA and other environmental chemicals. These findings may also have relevance to aquatic and terrestrial wildlife.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
authors.forename: Zoe L
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Koestel
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
authors.forename: Robert C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Backus
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
authors.forename: Kaoru
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsuruta
authors.affiliation: Department of Informatics Research Core Facility, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
authors.forename: William G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Spollen
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; Department of Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; Department of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
authors.forename: Sarah A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA.
authors.forename: Angela B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Javurek
authors.affiliation: Department of Agriculture Experimental Station-Statistics, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
authors.forename: Mark R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Ellersieck
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
authors.forename: Charles E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Wiedmeyer
authors.affiliation: Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, University of New York at Albany, Albany, NY 12201, USA.
authors.forename: Kurunthachalam
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kannan
authors.affiliation: Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, University of New York at Albany, Albany, NY 12201, USA.
authors.forename: Jingchuan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.affiliation: Department of DNA Core Facility, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
authors.forename: Nathan J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Bivens
authors.affiliation: Department of Informatics Research Core Facility, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; Department of Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
authors.forename: Scott A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Givan
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; Department of Bond Life Sciences Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; Department of Genetics Area Program, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; Department of Thompson Center for Autism and Neurobehavioral Disorders, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA. Electronic address: rosenfeldc@missouri.edu.
authors.forename: Cheryl S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Rosenfeld
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds / Q000097:blood* / Q000633:toxicity; D000074341:Dietary Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D004285:Dogs / Q000097:blood; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood* / Q000633:toxicity; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D057141:Food, Preserved / Q000032:analysis*; D057805:Pets / Q000097:blood; D010636:Phenols / Q000097:blood* / Q000633:toxicity; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds
chemical_list: D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D010636:Phenols; C006780:bisphenol A; D000098826:Bisphenol A Compounds
keywords: Commercial diets; Endocrine disruptors; Microbiome; Pets; Serum chemistry