Background: The role of minerals on parasite persistency and the interaction between minerals and animal responses to the parasite infestation is not clear. For these reasons, the present research was aimed to compare copper, zinc and iron status in sheep with parasitic myocarditis and healthy ones in 2009.
Methods: Blood and heart tissue samples were collected from 145 slaughtered sheep and histopathological findings were confirmed as myocardial sarcocystosis in 27 cases. Serum and tissue mineral level were determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Data were analyzed by Sigmastat program, using One Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) at the level of P<0.05.
Results: Myocardial sarcocystosis significantly increase myocardial concentration of Cu, Zn and Fe (P<0.05).
Conclusion: These findings may explain the role of copper, zinc and iron in parasite persistency and may discuss the pathogenesis of sarcocystosis, which relates to evocate mentioned micronutrient to cardiac muscle.