Haemoglobin phenotypes and the risk of asymptomatic malaria parasitemia among blood donors in northwest Nigeria: clinical implications in the practice of tropical transfusion medicine

Background: In malaria-endemic populations, sickle cell trait (SCT) protects against both severe and non-severe malaria, but inconsistencies exist about protective effect of SCT on asymptomatic malarial parasitemia (AMP). Surprisingly, the Hb-phenotypes AMP has not been explored among blood donors in Nigeria or other countries, where risks transfusion transmitted malaria (TTM) are high. The objective this study is to determine risk with respect donor (SCT versus HbAA), elucidate clinical implications TTM vis-à-vis practice medicine Nigeria, by implication tropical countries.Methodology: Analysis 100 (cases) without (controls) was performed. Frequencies HbAA (determined Hb electrophoresis) cases controls were compared X2 -test. Risks (detected microscopy) expressed as Odds ratios (OR) case-control logistic regression.Results: comparison (controls), had lower frequencies (12% vs 28%, p<0.05) corresponding higher (88% 72%, p<0.05). associated high (OR=2.91, 95%CI: 2.10-3.48, p=0.021), while low (OR=0.49, 0.27-0.73, p=0.032).Conclusion: This finding shows that a surreptitious mitigator tropics. Therefore, patients who selectively transfused (e. g. neonates disease patients) could be at greater TTM, such need closer post monitoring. calls for diligent haemovigilance endemic countries Africa
 Keywords: donors, trait, parasitemia,