Abstract
During most infections the plasma levels of trace elements change, but it is not clear if this reflects changes in the infected tissues. Coxsackievirus B3 (CB3) infection may result in viral replication, subsequent inflammation and changed trace element levels in the myocardium. In the present study, the trace element levels in the plasma and heart of adult male A/J mice were determined during the pre-inflammatory stage (day 4) of CB3 myocarditis for the following trace elements: aluminium (Al), arsenic (As), calcium (Ca), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), selenium (Se), silver (Ag), vanadium (V) and zinc (Zn). The severity of the infection was assessed through clinical signs of disease and trace element levels were measured through inductively-coupled plasma mass-spectrometry (ICP-MS). In the heart, the levels decreased for V (59%; p < 0.01), Co (38%; p < 0.01), Al (81%; p < 0.01), As (66%; p < 0.01) and Se (16%; p < 0.01). Increased levels were detected for Mn (13%; p < 0.05), Fe (48%; p < 0.01), Cu (34%; p < 0.01) and Ag (46%; p < 0.01). In the plasma, decreases were detected in the level of Zn (32%; p < 0.05), whereas increases were seen in Mn (362%; p < 0.05), Fe (272%; p < 0.01), Co (71%; p < 0.05), Cu (25%; n.s.) and Mg (43%; p < 0.01) levels. A correlation was found between the levels in plasma and myocardium for Co (r(s) = -0.636; p < 0.05), Fe (r(s) = 0.764; p < 0.05), Mn (r(s) = 0.682; p < 0.05) and Mg (r(s) = -0.791; p < 0.05). Thus, determination of some of these trace elements in the plasma may be useful to indicate target tissue involvement in the early pre- inflammatory stage of an infectious disease. Some of these elements are important nutrients for the immune system, while others may be associated with the development of disease complications, such as cardiac arrhythmias.