Beneficial effect of selenium supplementation during murine infection withTrypanosoma cruzi

Selenium (Se) has been shown to function as an antioxidant that may enhance immunity during microbial infection. To investigate the effect of elevated levels of Se on the course of experimental Chagas' disease, 5 groups of C3 HeB/FeJ mice were infected with 10(3) blood-form trypomastigotes of a Brazi l strain of Trypanosoma cruzi while receiving supplements of 0 ppm, 2 ppm, 4 ppm, 8 ppm, or 16 ppm Se as sodium selenate in drinking water. After 64 d ays of infection, survival ranged from 0 to 60%, with groups receiving 4 pp m and 8 ppm Se exhibiting 60% survival and the group without Se exhibiting 0% survival. In addition, parasitemia levels of mice supplemented with Se w ere significantly lower (P < 0.01) than in nonsupplemented mice. The result s of the present study suggest that Se supplementation does have a benefici al effect during murine infection with T. cruzi, resulting in decreased par asitemias and increased longevity.