Leishmaniasis and trace element alterations: a systematic review

Taghipour, A. and Abdoli, A. and Ramezani, A. and Abolghazi, A. and Jahromi, M. A. M. and Maani, S. and Nejadi, S. M. H. and Rasti, S. and Shams, M. and Ghasemi, E.

Biological Trace Element Research (2021) 199: 3918–3938

DOI: 10.1007/s12011-020-02505-0

Abstract

Leishmaniasis is a worldwide prevalent parasitic infection caused by different species of the genus Leishmania. Clinically, the disease divided into three main forms, including visceral leishmaniasis (VL), cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis (MCL). There is no vaccine for human leishmaniasis and their treatment is challenging. Trace elements (TEs) alteration, including the selenium (Se), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), ron (Fe), and magnesium (Mg) have been detected in patients with CL and VL as well as canine leishmaniasis. Because TEs play a pivotal role in the immune system, and host immune responses have crucial roles in defense against leishmaniasis, this systematic review aimed to summarize data regarding TEs alteration in human and animal leishmaniasis as well as the role of these elements as an adjuvant for treatment of leishmaniasis. In a setting of systematic review, we found 29 eligible articles (any date until October 1, 2020) regarding TEs in human CL (N = 12), human VL (N = 4), canine leishmaniasis (N = 3), and treatment of leishmaniasis based on TEs (N = 11), which one study examined the TEs level both in CL and VL patients. Our analysis demonstrated a significantly decreased level of Fe, Zn, and Se among human CL and canine leishmaniasis, and Zn and Fe in patients with VL. In contrast, an increased level of Cu in CL patients and Cu and Mg in VL patients and canine leishmaniasis was observed. Treatment of CL based zinc supplementation revealed enhancement of wound healing and diminished scar formation in human and experimentally infected animals. The results of this systematic review indicate that the TEs have important roles in leishmaniasis, which could be assessed as a prognosis factor in this disease. It is suggested that TEs could be prescribed as an adjuvant for the treatment of CL and VL patients.

Citation

Taghipour, A., Abdoli, A., Ramezani, A., Abolghazi, A., Jahromi, M. A. M., Maani, S., Nejadi, S. M. H., Rasti, S., Shams, M., & Ghasemi, E. (2021). Leishmaniasis and trace element alterations: a systematic review. Biological Trace Element Research, 199(10), 3918–3938. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-020-02505-0 prognosis, dogs, immune system, vaccines, animal models, man, microelements, trace elements, human diseases, infections, parasites, parasitoses, protozoal infections, laboratory animals, leishmaniasis, magnesium, disease models, skin diseases, wounds, immune response, experimental infections, adjuvants, skin, immunity reactions, immunological reactions, Protozoa, protozoal diseases, Animal Models of Human Diseases [VV400], dermis, parasitic diseases, parasitic infestations, parasitosis, Protozoan, Helminth and Arthropod Parasites of Humans [VV220], copper, cutaneous leishmaniasis, dermatoses, espundia, Leishmania, leishmaniosis, mucocutaneous leishmaniasis, selenium, visceral leishmaniasis, zinc

Keywords

• prognosis
• dogs
• immune system
• vaccines
• animal models
• man
• microelements
• trace elements
• human diseases
• infections
• parasites
• parasitoses
• protozoal infections
• laboratory animals
• leishmaniasis
• magnesium
• disease models
• skin diseases
• wounds
• immune response
• experimental infections
• adjuvants
• skin
• immunity reactions
• immunological reactions
• Protozoa
• protozoal diseases
• Animal Models of Human Diseases [VV400]
• dermis
• parasitic diseases
• parasitic infestations
• parasitosis
• Protozoan
• Helminth and Arthropod Parasites of Humans [VV220]
• copper
• cutaneous leishmaniasis
• dermatoses
• espundia
• Leishmania
• leishmaniosis
• mucocutaneous leishmaniasis
• selenium
• visceral leishmaniasis
• zinc