Abstract

Introduction: Dilated cardiomyopathy can be associated with taurine deficiency in dogs. Blood taurine concentrations can be analyzed in whole blood (WB) and plasma. The study objectives were to investigate agreement between taurine concentrations measured in WB, heparin plasma, and EDTA plasma, deter-mine intraindividual variation in healthy dogs, and evaluate if time from feeding to sampling impacts concentrations. Animals: 10 English Cocker spaniels and 10 dogs of various breeds. Materials and methods: Dogs were fasted 12 h prior to initial blood sampling, and the blood was collected at five occasions over 8 h. Food was offered immediately after first and 1 h after fourth sampling time point. Results: Agreement between taurine concentrations in EDTA plasma and hepari-nized plasma was good (mean difference 4.5 nmol/mL, 95% confidence interval (CI) 36.8-45.8 nmol/mL). WB concentrations were systematically higher than EDTA and heparin plasma concentrations (mean difference 132.7 nmol/mL, 95% CI 23.6-241.8 nmol/mL, and 127.6 nmol/mL, 95% CI 28.6-226.6 nmol/mL, respectively, all P < 0.001). Intraindividual daily variations in taurine concentration were seen in all additives, with largest variations in plasma (P < 0.001). Taurine concentration in heparinized plasma was higher at first and fifth sampling time points compared to the fourth (P 1/4 0.014). Discussion: Agreement was found between taurine concentrations measured in dif-ferent additives, with expected higher concentration in WB than plasma. Taurine concentrations measured in heparinized plasma varied with sampling time point. Intraindividual daily variations were observed in all additives, but mainly in plasma samples. Conclusion: Taurine concentrations in dogs with suspected deficiency should be in-terpreted with caution. 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Keywords

Amino acids; Biomarker; Cardiomyopathy; Canine; Heart

Published in

Journal of Veterinary Cardiology
2023, Volume: 45, pages: 59-70
Publisher: ELSEVIER

SLU Authors

• Kriström, Karin

  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • Anicura Albano Small Animal Hospital

• Häggström, Jens

  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Tidholm, Anna

  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • Anicura Albano Small Animal Hospital

• Ljungvall, Ingrid

  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Clinical Science


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvc.2022.12.003

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/121508