Trace elements are pivotal for the host defense, as well as potentially important for viral replication and virulence. Studies of sequential changes in viral replication in target organs of
infection are sparse and a possible association with changes in specific
trace elements is unknown. In this study Balb/c mice were infected with Coxsackie virus B3 (CVB3). Results indicated that sequential changes in viral replication (RT-PCR) were related to changes in
trace element (
arsenic,
copper,
iron,
selenium and
zinc) concentrations (as determined by ICP-MS) on days 3, 5 and 7 of the
infection in serum, heart, lung, liver, pancreas, kidney, spleen, intestine and brain. After an initial viral peak on day 3, viral load drastically decreased in all organs, i.e. by >99% (serum), 97% (lung), 98% (liver), 60% (pancreas), 95% (kidney) and 93% (spleen), except in the heart, intestine and brain in which viral load increased after day 3.
Selenium decreased in all organs except the heart while
arsenic decreased in all organs except the kidney, spleen and brain. Moreover,
selenium was negatively correlated to viral load in serum, liver, pancreas and intestine. To conclude, these findings give evidence that
trace elements are directly involved in the replication of CVB3.