mineral status of myocardial sarcocystosis

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.