Effect of zinc supplementation in pregnant mice during experimental Trypanosoma cruzi infection

Research in Veterinary Science
Janaína Fernanda Gonçalves-NetoSérgio Albuquerque

Abstract

Zinc is an essential micronutrient and has significant effects on human growth, development, and immune function. Zinc supplementation or deficiency may affect the course of infection. Zinc enhances immune response against a wide range of viral, bacterial, and parasitic pathogens. In the present study, we investigated the effects of zinc sulphate (ZnSO(4)) supplementation (20mg/kg/day) during pregnancy in mice, Swiss Webster strain infected by the Y strain of Trypanosoma cruzi. Oral supplementation of zinc sulphate in pregnant and non-pregnant infected animals did not affect the count of blood parasites as well as tissue parasitism in the heart, liver, and spleen. Zinc supplementation did not alter female body weight, the length of fetuses and neonates, placental size/weight and mortality rate. Among zinc supplied animals, no significant plasmatic zinc concentrations were observed. Concerning to tissue zinc concentrations, only the liver displayed enhanced values as compared to other organs. For placental parasitism, zinc supplied group displayed a significant decrease in amastigote burdens (P<0.05). However due to the reduced number of parasite burdens in placenta of animals supplied with zinc, these data suggest that zinc was...Continue Reading

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Citations

May 18, 2011·Journal of Tropical Medicine·Guilherme Malafaia, André Talvani
Nov 17, 2012·Clinical Nutrition : Official Journal of the European Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition·Cássia Mariana Bronzon da CostaAna Amélia Carraro Abrahão
May 23, 2012·Experimental Parasitology·Luciana Dalla RosaSilvia G Monteiro
Oct 10, 2012·Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine : CCLM·Annekathrin HaberlandIngolf Schimke

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