Prevalence of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency and haemoglobin S in high and moderate malaria transmission areas of Muheza, north-eastern Tanzania
Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency and haemoglobin S (HbS) are very common genetic disorders in sub Saharan Africa, where malaria is endemic. These genetic disorders have been associated with protection against malaria and are therefore under strong selection pressure by the disease...
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Published in | Tanzania journal of health research Vol. 10; no. 1; pp. 9 - 13 |
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Main Authors | , , , , , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
Tanzania
Health User's Trust Fund (HRUTF)
2008
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Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency and haemoglobin S
(HbS) are very common genetic disorders in sub Saharan Africa, where
malaria is endemic. These genetic disorders have been associated with
protection against malaria and are therefore under strong selection
pressure by the disease. In November-December 2003, we conducted a
cross-sectional survey to determine the prevalence of G6PD deficiency
and HbS in the population and relate these to malaria infection and
haemoglobin levels in lowland and highland areas of differing malaria
transmission patterns of Muheza, Tanzania. Blood samples from 1959
individuals aged 6 months to 45 years were collected. A total of 415
(21%) and 1181 (60%) samples were analysed for G6PD deficiency and HbS,
respectively. Malarial parasite prevalence was 17.2% (114/1959) in the
highlands and 39.6% (49/1959) in the lowlands. Lowlands had higher
prevalence of G6PD deficiency and HbS than highlands (G6PD deficiency =
11.32% (24/212) versus 4.43% (9/203), P = 0.01, and HbS = 16.04%
(98/611) versus 6.32% (36/570), P = 0.0001). Logistic regression model
showed an association between G6PD deficiency and altitude [lowlands]
(Odds ratio [OR] 3.4, 95% CI=1.49; 7.90, P=0.004). In the lowlands,
G6PD deficient individuals had lower mean haemoglobin (10.9g/dl) than
normal ones (12.8g/dl), P = 0.01. These findings show that high malaria
transmission in the lowlands might have selected for G6PD deficiency
and HbS. |
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Bibliography: | ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 |
ISSN: | 1821-6404 |
DOI: | 10.4314/thrb.v10i1.14335 |