Diagnostic value of a fecal panel in dogs with diarrhea appears to be low.

Preliminary investigation of the influence of long-term dietary isoflavone intake on 3reproductive tract histology and sex steroid receptor expression in female domestic 4 cats (Felis catus) 5 Summary 6Genistein and daidzein are isoflavones which are reported to influence the reproductive 7 system in a variety of mammalian species. This pilot study aimed to determine if dietary 8 isoflavones could potentially influence reproductive tract histology or morphology in 9 domestic cats, when consumed during the postnatal development period. Cats were 10 maintained on either treatment (150 μg/g DM genistein and 150 μg/g DM daidzein, n=4) 11 or control (isoflavone free, n=8) diets from weaning, up to 414 (± 17.2) days post-12 weaning. Reproductive tissues were collected during routine ovario-hysterectomy and 13 examined for histology and sex steroid receptor expression. Findings indicate that these 14 dietary isoflavones influenced the expression of oestrogen receptor α (ERα) and 15 oestrogen receptor β (ERβ), and progesterone receptor in feline reproductive tissues. One 16 cat in the treatment group developed suppurative endometritis, but no evidence of 17 uterotrophic or histological changes were found in any other cats. The potential to alter 18 expression of hormone receptors in the reproductive tract of domestic cats exposed to 19 genistein and daidzein warrants further investigation. 20

Preliminary investigation of the influence of long-term dietary isoflavone intake on 3 puberty onset and oestrous cycles in domestic cats (Felis catus) 4Summary 5 Genistein and daidzein are isoflavones which are reported to influence the reproductive 6 system in a variety of mammalian species. This pilot study aimed to determine if dietary 7 isoflavones could potentially influence reproductive parameters in domestic cats, when 8 consumed during the postnatal development period. Cats (n = 12) were maintained on 9 either a treatment (150 μg/g DM genistein and 150 μg/g, n=4) or control (isoflavone free, 10 n=8) diet from weaning, up to 414 (± 17.2) days post-weaning. Vaginal smears were 11 taken thrice weekly and examined for oestrogen-induced cellular degradation in all cats. 12Behavioural indicators of oestrous were routinely scored for the presence or absence of 13 six key behaviours. Genistein and daidzein did not alter puberty onset or oestrous cycle 14 parameters in these cats (P > 0.05). Behavioural scores were higher in cats in the 15 treatment group than control. Incidence of apparent spontaneous ovulation (inferred from 16 extended inter-oestrous periods) was greater in treated cats than control cats, although 17 serum hormone profiles were not available to confirm this observation. Further testing is 18 warranted. 19

Summary 15Dietary isoflavones have been hypothesised to play a role in hepatic veno-occlusive disease 16 in captive exotic felids, although empirical evidence is lacking. This study aimed to 17 investigate the effect of long-term (>1 year) dietary genistein and daidzein exposure on the 18 hepatic biochemistry and histology of domestic cats. Individual cats were assessed for hepatic 19 enzyme and bile acid production before and after the removal of isoflavones from their diet in 20 the treatment group (n=4), and at the same times in unexposed control animals (n=7). No 21 1 significant differences were detectable in hepatic biochemistry between treatment and control 22 groups, and all serum values were within the normal reference ranges for domestic cats. 23Additionally, treatment animals demonstrated slightly greater areas of fibrosis surrounding 24 hepatic venules than control animals, but this difference was not statistically significant. On 25 the basis of the results presented, dietary isoflavones, at the current dose and duration of 26 exposure do not appear to modulate hepatic enzyme production or histological parameters. 27