Journal of Medical Diagnostic Methods
Open Access

Abstract

Measuring the Change in Zinc Ion Concentration in Eye Tear Fluid between Healthy and Parasite Infected Individuals: Relationship between Zinc Ions in Tear Fluid and Parasitic Infection by Soil-Transmitted Helminths

Zeenia Framroze and Caroline Conroy

Infection by soil-transmitted helminths has been correlated with lowered concentration of zinc ions in serum. This study investigated the relationship between changes in zinc ion concentration in tear fluid for healthy versus parasitic infected individuals. The study used a serodiagnosis method to determine the presence of parasite infection. Our results conclude that converse to lowered zinc levels in serum, there is a significant increase in the concentration of zinc ions in eye tear fluids for parasite-infected individuals. These results support our continuing efforts to develop a low-cost, point-of-care diagnostic test specific to helminth infection. This will support the ongoing global anti-worm treatment efforts.