ABSTRACT
The haptoglobin (Hp) status of the population of Keneba, The Gambia was investigated. Of the 825 persons examined 22.9% were ahaptoglobinaemic (HpO). The incidence of HpO was higher in the 209 persons showing malaria parasites in their blood (38.8%) than in non-parasitaemic individuals (17.5%). Children less than two years old had low incidences of HpO except in the first two months of life. After two years the incidence rose with little tendency to change in older age groups. No correlations were seen between HpO and sex, anaemia or sickle cell trait. However, a positive correlation was found with malariometric indices in all age groups except the two to four years. The Hp of individuals was found to be unstable suggesting that in Africans it is a poor genetic marker. These results indicate that Hp is utilized in removing free haemoglobin liberated intravascularly, during malaria infections and that although this is a major cause of the high incidence of HpO in The Gambia, other factors are also important.
Subject(s)
Haptoglobins/analysis , Malaria/blood , Adolescent , Adult , Age Factors , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Gambia , Haptoglobins/genetics , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Malaria/genetics , Male , Middle Aged , Polymorphism, Genetic , Pyrimethamine/therapeutic use , SeasonsABSTRACT
The detection of haptoglobins in Anopheles gambiae s.l. has been used to obtain an estimate of the incidence of multiple feeding for the village of Barmawa, Garki District, Kano State, Nigeria. The results indicated that the incidence of multiple feeding was approximately 10% but problems were encountered by the high incidence of ahaptoglobinaemia in the population. In four villages in Garki District the incidence of ahaptoglobinaemia varied between 65 and 76% while in young children and personnel under constant malaria chemoprophylaxis it was less than 30%. A strong correlation between ahaptoglobinaemia and malaria infections was seen. The results show evidence of selection of hosts by mosquitoes at Barmawa although this does not necessarily imply a preference per se. The results provide evidence of movement of blood-fed mosquitoes, between houses and from houses to resting sites.
