Serum Copper Concentration in Malarial Patients by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy

Abstract

Malaria is one of the most serious tropical diseases in the world and has been a health risk to humans for many generations. It is very widespread disease, covering many areas of Europe, North America, South America, Asia and Africa. It is also a major public health problem in Pakistan. Copper, is a trace metal that can generate oxygen radicals by the Fenton’s reaction. The Plasmodium parasite invades an erythrocyte host cell containing copper. In the present study, copper level was determined in the blood serum of Malarial Patients (n=12) with comparison to normal subjects (n=12). Metal copper was determined using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS, Model Varian A-20) The blood serum level of Copper determined to be 2.6917 ppm, was higher as compared to the 2.045 ppm in normal subjects (p<0.001).