La cataracte juvénile d'origine nutritionnelle chez les carnivores sauvages élevés par l'homme

In wild carnivores living in captivity, we often have to take the pups from the mother away after the birth. The pups must then be fed with a commercial milk replacer. But these are formulated for the domestic pets. They might have different amino acids concentrations compared with the maternal milk and cause deficiencies, which can allow the formation of juvenile cataract. Indeed, an arginine, a phenylalanine, or a tryptophan deficiency can cause the formation of a juvenile nutritional cataract at carnivores. Because of the opacities, the lens cannot fill its principal function anymore : the light transmission to the retina. These opacities have variable location and extent, following the severity and the moment of the deficiency. So it is important to assure the good nutrition of the pups and it is sometimes necessary to complete the milk replacer with amino acids or vitamins, in order to minimize the risk to develop a cataract. This juvenile nutritional cataract seems to be reversible. Indeed, when the deficient amino acid is added to the milk or the regime, the opacities disappear in a couple of weeks.