Abstract
There is evidence that Plasmodium falciparum (Pf) malaria is influenced by ABO blood type but the extent of association is not fully established. Some investigators opinioned that haemoglobin electrophoretic patterns are a factor in susceptibility to Pf infection but there is no consensus on possible association between it and ABO blood group and Hb genotypes. This study was designed to determine the prevalence of Pf among different ABO blood groups and Hb electrophoretic patterns of medical students of a tertiary institution in Nnewi, Nigeria. A total of 80 subjects (41 males and 39 females) aged 18-30 years who reported to the Medical Centre of the institution on account of febrile illness were recruited for the study. Information on age, previous malaria episodes and recent use of prophylaxis were sought. Three milliliters (3ml) of blood were collected into EDTA container for ABO grouping, Hb electrophoresis and blood films for P. falciparum detection and quantification by microscopy. Pf prevalence among the subjects was 47.5% (38/80). Thirty-one (38.75%) of the subjects were of blood group O, 27 (33.75%) group A, 19 (23.75%) blood group B and 3(3.75%) blood group AB. Fifty-two (65%) of the subjects were Hb AA and 28 (35%) AS. No significance difference was seen between malaria episodes and ABO blood groups; Hb electrophoretic patterns; gender and parasite density (p>0.05) respectively. A negative correlation was observed between parasite density and age (r= -0.180, p = 0.109). Pf infection, frequency of infection and parasite load is not influenced by blood group and Hb electrophoretic patterns in our study population.
Highlights
Malaria, a life-threatening parasitic disease caused by an obligate, intracellular protozoan parasite of the genus Plasmodium
Materials and Methods Study Design The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of P. falciparum malaria among different blood groups and Hb electrophoretic patterns of medical students in a tertiary institution in Nnewi North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria
There was no significant difference between Hb electrophoretic patterns and malaria episodes (p>0.05) malaria episode was more in subjects who were AA (65.0%) compared to those who were AS (35.0%)
Summary
A life-threatening parasitic disease caused by an obligate, intracellular protozoan parasite of the genus Plasmodium. While P. vivax is responsible for the largest number of malaria infections worldwide, P. falciparum accounts for about 90% of deaths from malaria (Mendis et al, 2001). Two-thirds of all reported deaths were among children aged under 5 years (WHO, 2017). The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that malaria causes 250 million cases of fever annually (WHO, 2009). While another report put the death toll to 1,238,000 in same year 2010 (Murray et al, 2012). WHO had suggested the inclusion of awareness and subsequent control of malaria in the school health curriculum (WHO, 2007). This, in their opinion, would assist in measures aimed at prevention and the subsequent control of the disease
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