Serum calcium-phosphorus product as a diagnostic method for vitamin D deficiency and toxicity in camelids
Open Access
Author:
Bakaj, Marta
Area of Honors:
Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Robert John Vansaun, Thesis Supervisor Robert John Vansaun, Thesis Honors Advisor Justin D Brown, Faculty Reader
Keywords:
Camelid Vitamin D Calcium-Phosphorus Product Toxicity Deficiency Rickets
Abstract:
Camelids have been known to be especially susceptible to vitamin D-responsive rickets due to their evolutionary adaptation to downregulate in vivo vitamin D production. The objective of this study was to provide parameters for the use of calcium-phosphorus product as an alternative to the more expensive traditional vitamin D testing for diagnosis of vitamin D deficiency and toxicity in camelids. This retrospective study used published and unpublished data to produce Pearson’s correlations, general linear models, and contingency tables to determine relationships between serum calcium, serum phosphorus, calcium-phosphorus product, and vitamin D as well as other factors. It was found that vitamin D controls phosphorus concentration more so than calcium, that there is a difference between age groups in vitamin D physiology, and that calcium-phosphorus product is a valid measure of vitamin D. It was determined that the calcium-phosphorus product threshold for diagnosis of vitamin D deficiency in juvenile camelids is 50 mg2/dL2 while a previous study found a calcium-phosphorus product threshold of 60 mg2/dL2 for vitamin D toxicity in adult camelids. This calcium-phosphorus product method of vitamin D testing has great implications on maintaining healthy production camelids.