title: Influence of Rangelia vitalii (Apicomplexa: Piroplasmorida) on copper, iron, and zinc bloodstream levels in experimentally infected dogs.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the concentrations of copper, iron, and zinc in blood serum of dogs experimentally infected with Rangelia vitalii (n  =  7) compared with uninfected controls (n  =  5). Serum metal levels were determined in blood samples collected at days 0, 10, 15, and 20 post-infection (PI). Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry was used to measure the levels of copper, iron, and zinc. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed among groups PI. Increased levels of copper and decreased levels of iron and zinc were observed in the infected animals. The infection by R. vitalii may, therefore, alter the serum metal levels, resulting in metabolic disorders in dogs. These metals are directly involved in many enzymatic systems; accordingly, alterations in their blood concentrations may also influence the pathogenesis of disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Brazil 97105-900. aleksandro_ss@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Aleksandro S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Da Silva
authors.forename: Raqueli T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: França
authors.forename: Marcio M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Carlos B V
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Paim
authors.forename: Francine C
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Paim
authors.forename: Clarissa M M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Erico M M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Flores
authors.forename: Tiago L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Eilers
authors.forename: Cinthia M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Mazzanti
authors.forename: Silvia G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Monteiro
authors.forename: Carlos H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: do Amaral
authors.forename: Sonia T A
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Lopes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016782:Apicomplexa / Q000502:physiology*; D003300:Copper / Q000097:blood*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood*; D011529:Protozoan Infections, Animal / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D003300:Copper; D007501:Iron; D015032:Zinc