Difference in susceptibility to malaria between two sympatric ethnic groups in Mali.
We compared malaria indicators among sympatric groups to study human heterogeneities in the response to Plasmodium falciparum malaria infection. Four cross-sectional surveys and two longitudinal surveys in two sympatric ethnic groups (Dogon and Fulani) in Mali were carried out from 1998 to 2000. Spleen and parasite rates were evaluated during the cross-sectional surveys and disease incidence was assessed during longitudinal surveys. In spite of similar sociocultural factors and entomologic inoculation rates between ethnic groups, the Fulani had a significantly higher spleen enlargement rate, lower parasite rate, and were less affected by the disease than the Dogon group, whose frequency of hemoglobin C was higher than that recorded among the Fulani group. The Fulani group had significantly higher levels of IgG and IgE against crude malaria antigen than the Dogon group, suggesting a role of anti-malaria antibodies in the immune protection seen in this group.
Dolo
Amagana
A
Malaria Research and Training Center, Département d'Epidémiologie des Affections Parasitaires, Faculté de Médecine, de Pharmacie et d'Odonto-Stomatologie, Bamako, Mali. adolo@mrtcbko.org
Modiano
David
D
Maiga
Boubacar
B
Daou
Modibo
M
Dolo
Guimogo
G
Guindo
Hamadoun
H
Ba
Mamadou
M
Maiga
Hama
H
Coulibaly
Drissa
D
Perlman
Hedvig
H
Blomberg
Marita Troye
MT
Touré
Yeya Tiemoko
YT
Coluzzi
Mario
M
Doumbo
Ogobara
O
D000818:Animals; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003710:Demography; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005006:Ethnicity; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008302:Mali / Q000453:epidemiology; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000302:isolation & purification
D006454:Hemoglobins