Particle induced X-ray emission study of blood samples of Indian Kala-azar patients.
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) or Kala-azar (KA) is a neglected tropical disease caused by protozoan parasite, Leishmania sp. and is fatal, if left untreated. In this study, we measured trace elements (K, Fe, Cu, Zn, Br, Cl, S, Ca, Mn, Cr, Ni, As, Se, Rb and Sr) in the blood of Indian VL patients (32) by particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) study. Blood was collected from 36 subjects including healthy controls from Rambagh Kala-azar Hospital, Muzaffarpur, Bihar, India. PIXE experiment was carried out at the Institute of Physics, Bhubaneswar, India and data were analyzed by GUPIXWIN software. We observed first time the association of bromine with the disease. The results showed 48.47 % decrease in Br, 35.16 % decrease in Zn and 29.05 % decrease in Fe in untreated state of the KA patients. In the same group, Cu has been increased by 16.73 %. Cu/Zn ratio has been altered in diseased state. The association of bromine with the disease is reported for the first time and altered levels of trace elements (Br, Cu, Fe and Zn) may come back to normal after completion of the treatment regimen with Amphotericin B.
Post Graduate Department of Zoology, Barasat Govt. College, 10, K.N.C Road, Kolkata, 700124 India.
Sangita
S
Lahiry
Post Graduate Department of Zoology, Barasat Govt. College, 10, K.N.C Road, Kolkata, 700124 India.
Supriya
S
Khanra
Department of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005 India.|Immunology and Infection Laboratory, Queensland Institute of Medical Research, 300 Herston Road, Herston, QLD 4029 Australia.
Rajiv
R
Kumar
UGC-DAE Consortium for Scientific Research, 3/LB-8, Salt Lake, Kolkata, 700098 India.
Anindita
A
Chakraborty
Department of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005 India.
Shyam
S
Sundar
UGC-DAE Consortium for Scientific Research, 3/LB-8, Salt Lake, Kolkata, 700098 India.
Mathummal
M
Sudarshan
Post Graduate Department of Zoology, Barasat Govt. College, 10, K.N.C Road, Kolkata, 700124 India.
Madhumita
M
Manna
Br; Cu/Zn; Fe; Indian Kala-azar; PIXE