Association of haptoglobin levels with age, parasite density, and haptoglobin genotype in a malaria-endemic area of Gabon.
Haptoglobin (Hp) levels were investigated in relation to host genotype in a malaria-endemic area in Gabon. A cross-sectional study of 1-12-year-old children was conducted in the rainy season, a period of high malaria transmission, to examine this relationship. Variables that influenced Hp levels were Hp genotype, location, and age interacting with parasite density. At low parasite densities, there was a negative correlation between Hp levels and age. At higher densities, there was a positive correlation with age. This suggests that in the presence of greater parasite-induced hemolysis, older children are capable of increased production of Hp. Sickle cell trait and ABO blood group was not associated with Hp levels in this population.
Fowkes
Freya J I
FJ
Peter Medawar Building for Pathogen Research and Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom. freya.fowkes@med.nyu.edu
Imrie
Heather
H
Migot-Nabias
Florence
F
Michon
Pascal
P
Justice
Anita
A
Deloron
Phillipe
P
Luty
Adrian J F
AJ
Day
Karen P
KP
D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood*; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005681:Gabon / Q000453:epidemiology; D005838:Genotype; D006242:Haptoglobins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008288:Malaria / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000097:blood*; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010965:Plasmodium malariae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012805:Sickle Cell Trait / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D006242:Haptoglobins