Authors : C. Igbeneghu, G.N. Odaibo, D.O. Olaleye and A.B. Odaibo
Abstract: This study examined the association between ABO blood groups and malaria infection among 1688 apparently healthy adult volunteers in Iwo, Southwestern Nigeria. Thick and thin Giemsa-stained blood smears were prepared for malaria parasite identification and quantification and ABO blood group antigens tests were performed by standard tube and tile techniques. Of the 1688 individuals, 810 (48.0%) were group O, 410 (24.3%) were group B, 357 (21.1%) were group A and 111 (6.6%) were group AB. Three hundred and fifty four (43.7%) of the group O individuals, 209 (50.9%) of the group B, 171 (47.8%) of the group A and 59 (53.1%) of the AB had malaria infection. There was no significant association between ABO blood groups and malaria infection (χ2 = 7.70; df = 3; p = 0.06). The result of the analysis of variance showed that there were significant differences in the mean parasite densities of ABO blood groups for P. falciparum infected subjects (F = 22.64; p<0.001) and P. falciparum-P. malariae co-infected subjects (F = 4.64; p = 0.04). The results of the study suggest that while none of the blood groups had obvious advantage on the other with respect to malaria infection, O individuals appeared to be the most protected against high parasite density followed by B individuals while A and AB individuals were more likely to experience high parasite density.
C. Igbeneghu, G.N. Odaibo, D.O. Olaleye and A.B. Odaibo, 2012. Malaria Infection and ABO Blood Grouping in Iwo Community, Southwestern Nigeria. Research Journal of Medical Sciences, 6: 247-250.