Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Parasitology 1735-7020 6 2 2011 06 15 17 22 EN GA Kojouri Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran E Aghajani School of Veterinary Medicine, Shahrekord Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran S Jahanabadi Pharmacology Department, Tehran University of Medical Science, Iran A Kojouri Fascuty of Medicine, Yazd International Medical University, Yazd, Iran 2015 10 03 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. https://ijpa.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijpa/article/view/174 https://ijpa.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijpa/article/download/174/173