There has been concern raised about a resurgence of vitamin D deficiency and rickets among infants and children, with reports emerging in the United States from Alaska, 1,2 Iowa, 3 Nevada, 4 California, 5 North Carolina, 6 Texas, 7 and mother - infant pairs in Boston, 8 among
others.9 The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in young children also appears to be high in
other countries, including England, 10 Greece, 11 and Canada.12, 13 One study from China
found a 65.3 % prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among 12 - to 24 - month - olds, but few cases (3.7 %) of
radiographic or clinical rickets were noted.14 Previous studies suggest risk factors to be dark skin pigmentation1,3 - 12 and breastfeeding without supplementation.1 - 7, 9,12,13 To date, reports have focused primarily on young infants compared with toddlers.
Clinical signs and, possibly, thoracic
radiographic findings are similar in cats with abbreviated heartworm infections and those with
other causes of bronchial disease, such as feline asthma.