Trace elements levels in patients with some different parasitic infections

Abstract EN

Objective : To evaluate serum levels of zinc, copper and iron in regard to some different parasitic diseases.

Method : A case-control study was carried out during the first 9 months of 2007 in Basrah, Southern Iraq.

Blood samples were collected from 230 subjects aged 1-65 years.

One hundred samples out of 230 collected from patients with parasitic infections (35 patients with toxoplasmosis, 32 patients with leishmaniasis, 24 patients with amoebiasis and 9 patients with giardiasis) while the rest 130 were apparently healthy subjects and considered as control group.

The absorbance of each serum sample against blank was measured by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer.

Results : Serum zinc levels were decreased significantly in patient group when compared with healthy subjects (p < 0.001), while both serum copper and serum iron were increased significantly in patient group when compared with control group (p < 0.001).

There was no significant difference in regard to the effect of age and sex on serum trace elements levels in patients and control groups.

Conclusion : The significant decrease in serum zinc level and an increase of serum copper and iron in patients might be related to the parasitic infection.