Frequencies of some human genetic markers and their association with Plasmodium falciparum malaria in the Niger Delta, Nigeria.
OBJECTIVE
There is paucity of information on the association between Plasmodium falciparum malaria and some human genetic markers in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Hence, a study was undertaken in children to assess the current level of subclinical malaria due to P. falciparum.


METHODS
Blood groups ABO and Rhesus factor, haemoglobin electrophoretic pattern, G-6-PD deficiency status and malaria were determined among 240 apparently healthy children in a crosssectional descriptive study using standard procedures.


RESULTS
The prevalence of P. falciparum malaria in this region was high (27.5%). Blood group O (51.3%) dominated the study population, followed by B (23.8%), A (21.3%), and AB (3.8%). Rhesus D positive accounted for 91.3% while Rh D negative was 8.7%. Sickle-cell trait (HbAS) prevalence was 12.5% while HbAA accounted for 87.5%. In all, 5.42% of the children were G-6- PD deficient while 94.58% had normal G-6-PD status. Chi-square analysis revealed that only blood group O and Rh D negative had a significant association with P. falciparum malaria (chi2=4.3636, p<0.05 and chi2 = 5.760, p<0.02 respectively). No significant association was found to exist between P. falciparum malaria and other genetic markers.


CONCLUSIONS
This study has provided the current prevalence rates of some genetic markers in a malaria endemic region of Niger Delta, Nigeria. Of all the genetic markers tested, only Blood group O and Rh D negative had significant and positive associations with P. falciparum infection.
Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. zacjerry@yahoo.com
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D000017:ABO Blood-Group System / Q000145:classification; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005819:Genetic Markers; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005954:Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase / Q000235:genetics; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System / Q000145:classification
D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006454:Hemoglobins; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System; D005954:Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase