Prevalence of Malaria Infection in relation to Genotype AA, AS and SS Among Patients attending Jos University Health Centre, Jos, Nigeria.

Authors

  • B. M. W. Nwibari Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria.
  • J. T. Sunday Department of Zoology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria.
  • I. Luka Department of Zoology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria
  • A. I. Ogbonna Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, Faculty of Natural Science, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria.
  • B. Ushie Department of Genetic and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria.
  • N. Nanvyat Department of Zoology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4314/njpar.v46i2.25

Keywords:

Genotype, Haemoglobin, Susceptibility, Resistance, Carrier, Sickle cell

Abstract

Malaria is a major disease of public health challenge worldwide, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions, including Nigeria. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of malaria infection in relation to genotypes AA, AS, and SS among patients attending the Jos University Health Centre, Jos, Nigeria. A cross-sectional and hospital-based study was conducted in which 606 volunteers displaying signs of fever were examined for the presence of malaria infection using standard parasitological techniques of thick and thin blood smears. Fields stain A and B, along with Leishman stain, were employed for staining. The thick and thin smear was viewed using the objective lens of the light microscope to
confirm positive cases. Haemoglobin genotype electrophoresis testing methods for all patients were also conducted to ascertain their genotypes. The results obtained showed that genotype AApatients had the highest malaria prevalence of 249 (72.38%), followed by patients who had carriers of genotype AS with malaria prevalence of 34 (13.28%), while patients with sickle cell anaemia and SS had no malaria parasite, indicating a total resistance to malaria infection. In conclusion, this study revealed that the malaria parasite is most prevalent among genotype AA, followed by AS, which indicates their high susceptibility to malaria infection, unlike genotype SS, which is resistant to malaria infection. Therefore, malaria
control interventions should be made available for everyone in malaria-endemic regions, particularly those with genotypes AA and AS, for proper malaria prevention and control in the study area and beyond.

         Views | Download: 7 / 0

References

Kar, N. P., Kumar, A., Singh, O. P., Carlton, J. M., & Nanda, N. (2014). Areview of malaria transmission dynamics in forest ecosystems. Parasites & vectors, 7, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-3305-7-265

World Health Organisation. ( 2024) . World malaria report 2024: addressing inequity in the global malaria response. World Health Organisation. https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/379751. License: CC BY-NC-SA3.0 IGO

Uzoka, F. M. E., Akwaowo, C., Nwafor-Okoli, Ekpin, V., Nwokoro, C., El Hussein, M., Osuji, J., Aladi, F., Akinnuwesi, B., & Akpelishi, T. F. (2021). Risk factors for some tropical diseases in an African country. BMC Public Health, 21, 2261 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-12286-3.

Sarfo, J. O., Amoadu, M., Kordorwu, P. Y., Adams, A. K., Gyan, T. B., Osman, A. G., Asiedu, I. & Ansah, E. W. (2023). Malaria amongst children under five in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review of prevalence, risk factors and preventive interventions. European Journal of Medical Research, 28(1), 80. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-023-01046-1

World Health Organisation. (2021). World Malaria Report 2021. Geneva: World Health Organisation; 2021. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA3.0 IGO. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240040496

Nkya, S., Mwita, L., Mgaya, J., Kumburu, H., Van Zwetselaar, M., Menzel, S., Mazandu, G. K., Sangeda, R., Chimusa, E., & Makani, J. (2020). Identifying genetic variants and pathways associated with extreme levels of fetal haemoglobin in sickle cell disease in Tanzania. BMC Medical Genetics, 21, 125. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12881-020-01059-1

Okpala, I., Thomas, V., Westerdale, N., Jegede, T., Raj, K., Daley, S., Costello-Binger, H., Mullen, J., RochesterPeart, C., Helps, S., Tulloch, E., Akpala, M., Dick, M., Bewley, S., Davies, M. & Abbs, I. (2002). The comprehensive care of sickle cell disease. European Journal of Haematology, 68(3), 157-162. https://doi.org/10.1034/j.1600-0609.2002.01523.x

Collins, W. E., & Jeffery, G. M. (1999). Aretrospective examination of sporozoite-and trophozoite-induced infections with Plasmodium falciparum: development of parasitologic and clinical immunity during primary infection. The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 61(1 Suppl), 4-19. doi: 10.4269/tropmed.1999.61-04.

Crutcher, J. M. & Hoffman, S. L. (1996). Malaria. In: Baron S, editor. Medical Microbiology. 4th edition. Galveston (TX): University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston; 1996. Chapter 83. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK8584/

Miller, M. J., Neel, J. V., & Livingstone, F. B. (1956). Distribution of parasites in the red cells of sickle-cell trait carriers infected with Plasmodium falciparum. Transactions of The Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 50(3): 294–296, https://doi.org/10.1016/0035-9203(56)90037-2

World Health Organisation (2016). Malaria Microscopy Standard Operating Procedure – MM-SOP-05b.WHO/HTM/GMP/MM/SOP/2016.05b.

De Mendonça, V. R., Goncalves, M. S., & Barral-Netto, M. (2012). The host genetic diversity in malaria infection. Journal of Tropical Medicine, 2012(1), 940616. doi: 10.1155/2012/940616

Moody, A. (2002). Rapid diagnostic tests for malaria parasites. Clinical Microbiology Reviews, 15(1): 66–78. https://doi.org/10.1128/CMR.15.1.66-78.2002

Dasie, J. V. & Lewis, S. M. (1999). Practical Textbook of Haematology, 7th Edition, Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh, London, UK, pp 1-4.

Kotila, T. R. (2010). Guidelines for the diagnosis of the haemoglobinopathies in Nigeria. Annals of Ibadan Postgraduate Medicine, 8(1), 25–29. https://doi.org/10.4314/aipm.v8i1.63954.

Njila, H. L., Idoko, J. E., Ombugadu, A., & Zakari, H. (2022). Haemoglobin genotype variants and Plasmodium falciparum malaria in children receiving postpartum care at Faith Alive Foundation Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. Archives of Community Medicine and Public Health, 8(4), 147-151. DOI: 10.17352/2455-5479.000191

Udonsi, J. (1999). Parasites and Parasitic Diseases. ATextbook of General and Medical Parasitology. Josary Press, 104 Old Refinery Road, Elelenwo, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Pp246.

White, N. J. Anaemia and malaria (2018). Malaria Journal, 17, 371. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-018-2509-9.

Silverman, P. H., Schooley, J. C., & Mahlmann, L. J. (1987). Murine malaria decreases hemopoietic stem cells. Blood, 69(2):408-413.

Bashawri, L. A., Mandil, A. A., Bahnassy, A. A., & Ahmed, M. A. (2002). Malaria: haematological aspects. Annals of Saudi medicine, 22(5-6), 372-376. doi: 10.5144/0256-4947.2002.372.

Elliott, D. A., McIntosh, M. T., Hosgood, H. D., 3rd, Chen, S., Zhang, G., Baevova, P., & Joiner, K. A. (2008). Four distinct pathways of haemoglobin uptake in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 105(7), 2463–2468. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0711067105

Mohandas, N., & An, X. (2012). Malaria and human red blood cells. Medical Microbiology and Immunology, 201(4), 593–598. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00430-012-0272-z

Oparaocha, E. T. (2003). The impact of Haemoglobin level and concomitant infections of malaria parasitaemia and onset of fever during malaria attack in Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria. Nigeria Journal of Parasitology, 24: 25-32. DOI: 10.4314/njpar. v24i1.37801

Petersen, J. E. V., Saelens, J. W., Freedman, E., Turner, L., Lavstsen, T., Fairhurst, R. M., Diakite, M and Taylor, S. M. (2021). Sickle-trait haemoglobin reduces adhesion to both CD36 and EPCR by Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes. PLOS Pathogens, 17(6): e1009659. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1009659

Lynch, M. T. & Raphael, S. S. (1983). Immunology and Serology. Lynch’s Medical Laboratory Technology Saunders, Philadelphia.

Chauvet, M., Chhuon, C., Lipecka, J., Dechavanne, S., Dechavanne, C., Lohezic, M., Ortalli, M., Pineau, D., Nwibari et al: Prevalence of Malaria Infection in relation to Genotype AA, AS and SS 434 Ribeil, J. A., Manceau, S., Le Van Kim, C., Luty, A. J. F., Migot-Nabias, F., Azouzi, S., Guerrera, I. C., & Merckx, A. (2021). Sickle Cell Trait Modulates the Proteome and Phosphoproteome of Plasmodium falciparum-Infected Erythrocytes. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, 11, 637604. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2021.637604

Luzzatto, L. (2012). Sickle cell anaemia and malaria. Mediterranean Journal of Haematology and Infectious Diseases, 4(1), e2012065. https://doi.org/10.4084/MJHID.2012.065.

Acher, N. M., Petersen, N., Clark, M. A., Buckee, C. O., Childs, L. M., & Duraisingh, M. T. (2018). Resistance to Plasmodium falciparum in sickle cell trait erythrocytes is driven by oxygen-dependent growth inhibition. Biological Sciences, 115(28), 7350-7355. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1804388115.

Downloads

Published

2025-10-12

How to Cite

Nwibari, B. M. W., Sunday, J. T., Luka, I., Ogbonna, A. I., Ushie, B., & Nanvyat, N. (2025). Prevalence of Malaria Infection in relation to Genotype AA, AS and SS Among Patients attending Jos University Health Centre, Jos, Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Parasitology, 46(2), 430–435. https://doi.org/10.4314/njpar.v46i2.25

Issue

Vol. 46 No. 2 (2025): September

Section

Main Issues

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Nigerian Journal of Parasitology

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Most read articles by the same author(s)