Tapeworms parasitize at sites that are important for the management of micronutrients, including zinc. Therefore, it has been hypothesized that tapeworms will significantly affect the excretion of zinc in the feces of a host. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects that tapeworms have on the excretion of zinc in the feces of the host. Rats were divided into 4 groups: groups 0T and MT (infected with Hymenolepis diminuta (Rudolphi, 1819)) and groups 00 and M0 (uninfected). The experimental groups (M0 and MT) were fed a standard rodent compound feed (ST-1) with added zinc lactate; the daily zinc intake was 20.5 mg. The control groups (00 and 0T) were fed only ST-1 with 1.75 mg of added Zn per day. For six weeks, the amount of consumed feed was recorded and fecal samples were taken. The samples were then analyzed by optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), and levels of excreted zinc were subsequently calculated as a percentage. The most signifi cant difference in zinc excretion levels between the experimental groups was observed in the third week, when rats infected with tapeworms (MT) excreted substantially lower levels of zinc than did uninfected rats (M0). This difference amounted to 28.36 % (p <0.01). In the control groups, tapeworms affected the excretion of zinc in the feces to a lesser extent, and the most substantial difference in zinc levels was seen in the fifth week (8.46 %). However, there was no signifi cant difference in zinc excretion levels between the control groups during any of the monitored weeks. Tapeworms in the host affect levels of zinc excreted in the feces. However, this is dependent on the amount or form of zinc ingested.

• Klíčová slova
• excretion, fecal, rat, supplement, tapeworm, zinc,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

The main objective of this study was to determine how rat tapeworms affect the excretion of zinc and cadmium through rat feces. Male rats (Rattus norvegicus var. alba) were divided into four groups, and the experiment was conducted over a 6-week period. The control groups (00; 0T) were provided with a standard ST-1 rodent mixture and received 10.5 mg of Zn/week. Groups P0 and PT were fed a mixture supplemented with the hyperaccumulating plant Arabidopsis halleri at a dosage of 123 mg Zn/week and 2.46 mg Cd/week. Groups 0T and PT were infected with the rat tapeworm (Hymenolepis diminuta). Fecal samples were collected 24 h post exposure. Zinc and cadmium concentrations in rat feces were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. Tapeworm presence decreased the amount of metals excreted through the feces of the host throughout the entire experiment, with the exception of 1 week (control group). No statistically significant differences between zinc excretion rates in the control groups (00 and 0T) were detected at any time throughout the experiment. A statistically significant difference between zinc excretion rates (p < 0.05) in the exposed groups (P0 and PT) was detected in 2 of the 6 monitored weeks. Group PT excreted significantly less cadmium (p < 0.01) than group P0 did in three of the 6 weeks. Overall, our results indicate that tapeworms are able to influence the excretion of metals by their host. Tapeworms accumulate metals from intestinal contents. It is not clear whether tapeworms carry out this process before the host tissues absorb the metals from the intestines or the tapeworms accumulate metals excreted from the body of the host back to the intestines. Most likely, it is a combination of both phenomena.

• Klíčová slova
• Cadmium, Excretion, Feces, Hyperaccumulators, Rat, Tapeworm, Zinc,
• MeSH
• cestodózy metabolismus   MeSH
• feces chemie   MeSH
• gastrointestinální obsah chemie   MeSH
• Hymenolepis diminuta metabolismus   MeSH
• kadmium farmakokinetika   MeSH
• krmivo pro zvířata MeSH
• látky znečišťující životní prostředí farmakokinetika   MeSH
• modely nemocí na zvířatech MeSH
• potkani Wistar MeSH
• zinek farmakokinetika   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• kadmium MeSH
• látky znečišťující životní prostředí MeSH
• zinek MeSH