Essential Trace Element Levels in Patients With Cutaneous Anthrax

Abstract

The causative microorganism in anthrax is Bacillus anthracis and this disease is more common in some regions of Türkiye. Changes in trace elements other than iron in anthrax infection have not been studied. In this study, iron, copper, lead, zi nc, manganese, magnesium, cadmium and cobalt levels were investigated in cases with cutaneous anthrax. Fifteen patients with cutaneous anthrax and 15 healthy individuals wereincluded in the study. The groups were similar to each other in terms of age and gender. Anthrax was diagnosed according to contact status with animals, symptoms, examination, and microbiological results. We performed our study with Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (UNICAM-929 spectrophotometer). Serum iron, lead, and cadmium levels were significantly higher in the patients than in the control subjects (p<0.05). Serum magnesium, manganese, zinc, copper, and cobalt levels were significantly lower in the patients than in the control subjects (p<0.05). The copper/zinc molar ratio was not significantly increased in the patients with cutaneous anthrax than in the control subjects. It has been reported that iron, cadmium, and lead levels are low and copper level is high in infectious diseases. But we determined the opposite situation in the patients with cutaneous anthrax. As a result, it can be said that the detection of high lead and cadmium levels in the cell in anthrax disease suppresses the immune system. Also, zinc can be used as a marker for this disease. © 2023, Yuzuncu Yil Universitesi Tip Fakultesi. All rights reserved.