Asymptomatic carriage of Plasmodium falciparum by individuals with variant blood groups and haemoglobin genotypes in southern Ghana

Abstract

Background: The ABO and the Rhesus blood group systems, as well as various abnormal haemoglobin (Hb) variants (haemoglobinopathies) are known to influence malaria parasite carriage and disease severity in individuals living in malaria endemic areas. This study identified the blood group and Hb variant distribution and Plasmodium falciparum infection status of afebrile individuals living in southern Ghana. Methods: Afebrile participants were recruited from Obom (358) in the Greater Accra Region and Ewim (100) and Simiw (329) in the Central Region of Ghana. Venous blood (1 ml) was collected into EDTA vacutainer tubes. Three 20 μl drops of blood were used for blood group analysis using the tile method. Another 500 μl aliquot was used for the qualitative sickling test using sodium metabisulphite and haemoglobin electrophoresis. Genomic DNA was extracted from 100 μl of whole blood and used in P. falciparum species-specific PCR. Results: The most abundant blood group and abnormal haemoglobin variant in both sites was blood group O + (47.4%) and HbAS (15.8%). A total of 13 (1.7%) of the participants had full haemoglobinopathies (SS, SC and CC), whilst 196 (25.4%) were carriers (AS and AC). Although there was a significantly higher prevalence of sickling positive participants from the Central Region, genotyping identified a similar prevalence of each of the abnormal haemoglobin genes in both sites. Asymptomatic parasite carriage estimated by PCR was 40.9% in the Central Region and 41.8% in the Greater Accra Region. Conclusions: Asymptomatic carriage of P. falciparum parasite in the study population was not associated with any particular blood group variant or haemoglobin genotype.

Probing SARS-CoV-2-positive plasma to identify potential factors correlating with mild COVID-19 in Ghana, West Africa

“…However, there was a trend towards higher rates of asymptomatic infection in blood group O and high rates of symptomatic infection in non-blood group O, which is in line with previous studies in Turkey [ 42 ], China [ 41 ] and the USA [ 43 ], all which found trends but no significant correlations of blood type with disease severity and deaths. Since blood group O prevalence ranges between 47 and 50% [ 44 , 45 ] in Ghana, it is possible that the high cases of mild or asymptomatic COVID-19 individuals in Ghana may be in part attributable to the dominance of blood group O in the population. It has been reported that SARS-CoV-2 receptor-binding domain (RBD) potentially prefers binding to antigen A, expressed on respiratory epithelial cells, than O [ 46 ].…”

Detecting asymptomatic carriage of Plasmodium falciparum in southern Ghana: utility of molecular and serological diagnostic tools

“…Obom is a high malaria parasite prevalence setting in the Ga South municipality of Greater Accra Region of Ghana (Fig. 1 ) with a microscopy estimated parasite prevalence of 35% in 2014 [ 5 , 12 ] and 41.8% in 2019 [ 29 ]. Asutsuare is a low malaria parasite prevalence setting in the Shai Osudoku District of the Greater Accra Region of Ghana.…”

Profiling the Quality and Quantity of Naturally Induced Antibody Responses Against Pfs230 and Pfs48/45 Among Non-Febrile Children Living in Southern Ghana: A Longitudinal Study

“…Malaria transmission in Simiw is usually perennial and overlaps with the rainy season peaking in-between May and July. The dry season however begins in November and ends in April ( Acquah et al., 2020 ). Study participants were pupils of the Simiw M/A Basic School-aged from 6 to 12 years.…”

“…This study sought to characterize the properties (levels and relative avidities) of naturally-induced antibody responses against two transmission-blocking vaccine candidates, Pfs230 and Pfs48/45 among non-febrile children in southern Ghana. however begins in November and ends in April (Acquah et al, 2020). Study participants were pupils of the Simiw M/A Basic School-aged from 6 to 12 years.…”