Susceptibility of ABO and Genotype Blood Groups to Plasmodium Infections and Effect of Parasitaemia on Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate, Haemoglobin and Packed Cell Volume

Aims: The study focused on “susceptibility of ABO and genotype blood-groups to malaria infection and effects of parasitaemia on erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), haemoglobin (Hb), and packed cell volume (PCV).

Study Design: Cross-sectional descriptive study.

Place and Duration of Study: Primary Health Centers (PHC) in Awka North, Awka South, Onitsha North, and Onitsha South Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Anambra State Nigeria, between January and June 2018.

Methodology: The 800 consenting individuals purposively selected for study were stratified under LGAs, gender, age-groups, ABO blood groups, and haemoglobin genotypes using clinic records. Blood samples were collected by venipuncture, and Giemsa stained thick and thin films were examined by microscopy for malaria parasites while ESR, Hb and PCV were determined by standard laboratory procedures. Data was subjected to descriptive statistics to obtain totals, percentages, means and standard error of mean. Error bars indicated significant differences (P<0.05) among variables compared with bar charts in MS Excel version 2010.

Results: Population examined was evenly distributed under LGAs and gender. A total of 436 out of 800 were malaria parasite positive (Overall prevalence=54.4%). About 70% of all infections was due to Plasmodium falciparum while P. malariae, P. ovale and P. vivax contributed 18.1, 14.9 and 0.5%, respectively (P>0.01). Malaria prevalence was higher in ONLGA (60%), males (59%), and children under 10 years (78.5%). Individuals of ABO Blood groups “O” and “A”, and genotype “HbAA” were more susceptible to malaria infection than their counterparts. Almost 75% of the infected individuals had elevated ESR and depressed Hb and PCV levels.

Conclusion: Dominant malaria parasite in the area was P. falciparum. Children and those of Blood groups ‘O’ and ‘A’, and genotype Hb-AA were more vulnerable to Plasmodium infections. Malaria-induced anaemia was linked to high ESR and low Hb and PCV levels.

The findings of this study may be helpful to modify the line of action plan to contain malaria in these localities.