title: The influence of copper, selenium and zinc on the response to the Montenegro skin test in subjects vaccinated against American cutaneous leishmaniasis.
abstract: We evaluated the relationship between the trace elements copper, zinc and selenium and the response to the Montenegro skin test (MST) in 172 volunteers vaccinated against American cutaneous leishmaniasis. The MST diameter was categorized as negative and in quartiles of positive response, constituting five groups. Trace element serum levels were analyzed by coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry and hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry, with study subjects classified into two groups depending on low or high levels of trace elements observed. MST-positive subjects had an MST diameter (mean+/-SD) of 10.35+/-4.64mm, with copper, selenium and zinc serum levels of 1433.7+/-665.7microg/l, 88.6+/-39microg/l and 999.2+/-366microg/l, respectively. The MST diameter was significantly different in the selenium groups only. The selenium levels also differed with the quartiles of the MST diameters of individuals testing positive (P<0.05). Our findings suggest that trace elements, particularly selenium, should be measured in future vaccine trials so that vaccine immunogenicity and response can be assessed and compared between different studies.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Epidemiologia, Escola de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto (UFOP), Rua Costa Sena 171 Centro, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alexandra Paiva
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Araújo
authors.forename: Olguita Geralda Ferreira
authors.initials: OG
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.forename: Wilson
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Mayrink
authors.forename: George Luiz Lins
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Machado-Coelho
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054332:Leishmaniasis Vaccines / Q000276:immunology*; D016773:Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous / Q000097:blood / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012643:Selenium / Q000097:blood*; D012882:Skin Tests / Q000379:methods; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D054332:Leishmaniasis Vaccines; D003300:Copper; D012643:Selenium; D015032:Zinc