Serum Vitamin D Concentration in Dogs and Cats with Histoplasmosis

Purpose and Brief Study Description:

This study is designed to determine the vitamin D concentration in dogs and cats diagnosed with histoplasmosis and to determine its association with survival.

Histoplasmosis is a systemic fungal infection, which can cause dogs and cats to become ill with respiratory disease or have disseminated infection throughout their body. It is not understood why some pets become ill from histoplasmosis while others do not; it is suspected that individual differences of the immune system contribute to this clinical response. Vitamin D has important functions in the immune system and enhances the branch of the immune system that fends off fungal infections. In people, low vitamin D concentrations were associated with increased risk for a similar fungal infection, called blastomycosis. This study aims to measure vitamin D concentrations in dogs and cats diagnosed with histoplasmosis, which ultimately might help to determine if vitamin D supplementation might be warranted for these patients.

Enrollment Criteria:

Any dog or cat previously diagnosed with histoplasmosis.

What does enrollment into this trial involve?

If you agree to be in this study, your dog or cat will undergo venipuncture (blood collection) to collect 1 sample of blood (about 2-3 mLs).

Client Compensation:

There is no cost or reimbursement for you to participate in this study.

Contact Information:

For more information about this trial, please contact Kris Richardson, Clinical Trials Coordinator:

Phone: (785)-532-3046, email: ClinicalTrials@vet.k-state.edu