| Animal fibre: The forgotten nutrient in strict carnivores? First insights in the cheetah. | |
| | |
MedLine Citation:
|
PMID: 22074361 Owner: NLM Status: Publisher |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
|
As wild felids are obligate carnivores, it is likely that poorly enzymatically digestible animal tissues determine hindgut fermentation, instead of plant fibre. Therefore, faecal concentrations of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA, including branched-chain fatty acids, BCFA), indole and phenol were evaluated in 14 captive cheetahs, fed two different diets differing in proportion of poorly enzymatically digestible animal tissue. Using a cross-over design, the cheetahs were fed exclusively whole rabbit or supplemented beef for 1 month each. Feeding whole rabbit decreased faecal propionic (p < 0.001) and butyric (p = 0.013) acid concentrations, yet total SCFA was unaltered (p = 0.146). Also, a remarkably higher acetic acid to propionic acid ratio (p = 0.013) was present when fed whole rabbit. Total BCFA (p = 0.011) and putrefactive indole (p = 0.004) and phenol (p = 0.002) were lower when fed whole rabbit. Additionally, serum indoxyl sulphate, a toxic metabolite of indole, was analysed and showed a quadratic decrease (p = 0.050) when fed whole rabbit. The divergent SCFA ratios and the decrease in putrefaction when fed whole rabbit could be caused by the presence of undigested tissue, such as skin, bone and cartilage, that might have fibre-like functions. The concept of animal fibre is an unexplored area of interest relevant to gastrointestinal health of captive cheetahs and likely other felids. |
| | |
Authors:
|
S Depauw; M Hesta; K Whitehouse-Tedd; L Vanhaecke; A Verbrugghe; G P J Janssens |
Publication Detail:
|
Type: JOURNAL ARTICLE Date: 2011-11-10 |
Journal Detail:
|
Title: Journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition Volume: - ISSN: 1439-0396 ISO Abbreviation: - Publication Date: 2011 Nov |
Date Detail:
|
Created Date: 2011-11-14 Completed Date: - Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
|
Nlm Unique ID: 101126979 Medline TA: J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) Country: - |
Other Details:
|
Languages: ENG Pagination: - Citation Subset: - |
Copyright Information:
|
© 2011 Blackwell Verlag GmbH. |
Affiliation:
|
Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium Cheetah Outreach, Western Cape, South Africa Laboratory of Chemical Analysis, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium. |
Export Citation:
|
APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
|
|
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
Previous Document: Mesenchymal Stem Cells Prime Proliferating Adult Neural Progenitors Towards An Oligodendrocyte Fate.
Next Document: A novel actin-microtubule cross-linking kinesin, NtKCH, functions in cell expansion and division.