The effects of plant-bound zinc (Zn) and cadmium (Cd) on element uptake and their interactions in a parasite-host system were investigated in a model experiment. Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups (C, P, TC and TP). Groups TC and TP were infected with the rat tapeworm Hymenolepis diminuta. Groups C and TC were fed a standard rodent mixture (ST-1) and received 10.5 mg of Zn per week, while groups P and TP were fed a mixture supplemented with the Zn- and Cd-hyperaccumulating plant Arabidopsis halleri at a dosage of 236 mg Zn/week and 3.0 mg Cd/week. Rats were euthanized after 6 weeks, and Cd and Zn levels were determined in rat and tapeworm tissue. The results indicate that tapeworm presence did have an effect on Cd and Zn concentrations in the host tissue; the majority of tissues in infected rats had statistically significant lower Zn and Cd concentrations than did uninfected rats. Tapeworms accumulated more zinc and cadmium than did the majority of host tissues. This important finding confirms the ability of tapeworms to accumulate certain elements (heavy metals) from the host body to their own body tissues. Thus, tapeworms can decrease heavy metal concentrations in host tissues.

Department of Agroenvironmental Chemistry and Plant Nutrition Faculty of Agrobiology Food and Natural Resources Czech University of Life Sciences Prague Kamycka 957 16521 Prague 6 Suchdol Czech Republic

Department of Zoology and Fisheries Faculty of Agrobiology Food and Natural Resources Czech University of Life Sciences Prague Kamycka 957 16521 Prague 6 Suchdol Czech Republic

See more in PubMed

Parasitol Res. 2004 Dec;94(6):468-70 PubMed

Environ Pollut. 2009 Aug-Sep;157(8-9):2584-6 PubMed

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2015 Dec;22(23):18801-13 PubMed

Environ Pollut. 2006 Sep;143(1):4-8 PubMed

New Phytol. 2009 Nov;184(3):581-95 PubMed

Parasitology. 2003;126 Suppl:S53-60 PubMed

Parasitol Res. 2000 Aug;86(8):688-91 PubMed

Environ Res. 2004 Nov;96(3):311-22 PubMed

Bull Environ Contam Toxicol. 2015 Jul;95(1):116-21 PubMed

Arch Environ Contam Toxicol. 2010 Feb;58(2):469-77 PubMed

Nat Rev Neurosci. 2005 Jun;6(6):449-62 PubMed

Ecotoxicology. 2002 Oct;11(5):365-8 PubMed

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2014 May;21(9):6239-42 PubMed

Sci Total Environ. 2005 Jun 15;346(1-3):81-6 PubMed

J Trace Elem Med Biol. 2005;19(2-3):125-40 PubMed

Environ Res. 2001 Mar;85(3):215-25 PubMed

J Nutr. 2000 May;130(5S Suppl):1374S-7S PubMed

Int J Parasitol. 2000 Sep;30(10):1071-6 PubMed

Int J Parasitol. 2001 May 15;31(7):669-73 PubMed

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2015 Feb;22(4):3175-9 PubMed

Biometals. 2004 Dec;17(6):615-24 PubMed

Environ Pollut. 2004 Jun;129(3):421-9 PubMed

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2015 Dec;22(23):18699-706 PubMed

Food Nutr Bull. 2004 Mar;25(1 Suppl 2):S99-203 PubMed

Biol Trace Elem Res. 2013 May;152(2):225-32 PubMed

Environ Sci Technol. 2002 Jun 15;36(12):2684-92 PubMed

Neurobiol Dis. 1997;4(3-4):137-69 PubMed

Biol Trace Elem Res. 2011 Oct;143(1):394-402 PubMed

J Urol. 2007 Feb;177(2):639-43 PubMed

Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2009 Aug 1;238(3):215-20 PubMed

Exp Parasitol. 2010 Mar;124(3):285-94 PubMed

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2015 Dec;22(23):19124-32 PubMed

Parasite. 2008 Dec;15(4):581-8 PubMed

Parasitol Today. 1997 Jul;13(7):251-5 PubMed

Parasitology. 2000 Oct;121 ( Pt 4):427-33 PubMed

Sci Total Environ. 2008 Jul 15;398(1-3):13-9 PubMed

Int J Parasitol. 1998 Aug;28(8):1173-8 PubMed

Excretion of Dietary Zinc in Mammals (rats) Fed Overdoses of Zinc Lactate and Infected with Tapeworms

Effects of tapeworm infection on absorption and excretion of zinc and cadmium by experimental rats