The contents of spleen trace elements copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), and cobalt (Co) were determined after basic Cu‑Zn salt application in rats with experimental chronic fasciolosis. The Cu‑Zn salt treatment of healthy animals caused statistically significant increased quantity of spleen Zn and nearly unchanged levels of Co, Cu and Fe compared to controls. Statistically significant increased quantity of Zn, markedly increased level of Fe, slightly increased Cu and unchanged level of Co were detected in the spleens of rats with chronic fasciolosis compared to the controls. The application of basic Cu-Zn salt at the background of chronic fasciolosis caused statistically significant increasing of the quantities of spleen Zn and Cu, higher than in the other experimental groups, increasing of Fe level, which was lower than in the rats with chronic fasciolosis, and not changed Co content in the spleens of experimental animals compared to the control levels. May be the application of basic Cu‑Zn salt caused an improvement of some altered from chronic Fasciola hepatica infection biochemical and immunological parameters in the spleens of infected hosts.
Key words: spleen, trace elements, basic zinc-copper salt, chronic fasciolosis, rats
Topic: BIOLOGY