Association of haptoglobin phenotypes with malaria infection in Kano, Northern Nigeria

ABSTRACT Background: It has been documented that haptoglobin phenotypes have been linked to malaria susceptibility but this assertion still remains inconclusive. The aim of this study was to determine the association of haptoglobin phenotypes to malaria infection in Kano, Northern Nigeria. Materials and methods: A total of 261 children (211 malaria-infected and 50 non-malaria infected children), aged 1-12 years, were recruited for a study between January and December, 2018. Blood sample was collected from each participant into tripotassium EDTA tube and plain container for detection of malaria of parasites from prepared blood films and haptoglobin phenotyping, respectively using standard techniques. Results: Haptoglobin 1-1 phenotype had highest prevalence for malaria (46.4%) among the malaria-infected children compared to haptoglobin 2-1 phenotype (33.6%) and haptoglobin 2-2 phenotype (19.9%). The species detected were Plasmodium falciparum (98.6%), Plasmodium malariae (0.9%) and Plasmodium ovale (0.5%). There was no relationship between haptoglobin phenotypes and plasmodium species (P=0.6210). Conclusion: Plasmodium falciparum is the predominant Plasmodium species in Kano. Haptoglobin 1-1 phenotype had the highest prevalence among the malaria-infected children but there were no significant differences in the prevalence rates of haptoglobin phenotypes in malaria-infected children compared to non-malaria infected children. However, haptoglobin phenotypes and Plasmodium species showed no relationshi