Plasmodium Falciparum Infections Among Individuals With Different Abo And Rhesus Blood Groups Attending Kipkelion And Fort-Ternan Hospitals In Kericho County, Kenya

ABSTRACT

Malaria is an infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by protozoa of the genus Plasmodium and is transmitted mainly through bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. The main species causing the disease in humans include Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium malariae, Plasmodium ovale, Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium knowlesi. The disease results from multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever, headache, vomiting and in severe cases progressing to coma and /or death. Several studies undertaken have been unable to link ABO blood groups to the incidence or to the repeat attacks of malaria. The main objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum infections amongst individuals with different ABO and Rhesus (Rh) blood groups. The study design was simple cross - sectional study, while population sampling technique was probability proportion to size. Three hundred and six malaria symptomatic patients who visited Kipkelion and Fort-ternan sub-District Hospitals and gave consent to take part in the study were enrolled. The clinical signs and symptoms commonly presented were fever, headache, diarrhea and joint pain. Thick blood films were used to quantify malaria parasites whereas thin blood films were used for Plasmodium species identification. The remaining portion of blood was used for phenotypic determination of blood groups. ABO blood groups were determined using commercial antisera –A and B whereas rhesus blood typing was done using antisera-D. The data obtained was statistically analyzed using SPSS version 21.0. Prevalence of P. falciparum infections amongst individuals of different ABO and Rh blood groups was statistically analyzed using Chi-square (χ2) while the relationship between parasitaemia and age was analyzed using regression analysis. Statistical significance was set at p