Malaria Parasitaemia Levels in Relation to Antioxidant Enzyme Levels in Severe Malaria Amongst Ghanaian Children
Date
2013-07
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Publisher
University of Ghana
Abstract
Malaria is an important infectious disease in tropical and subtropical regions. The disease
presents a major global health problem with over 40% of the world`s population exposed
to varying degrees of infection risk in over 100 countries. About 1 to 2 million deaths
occur annually, 90% of whom are children in sub-Saharan Africa. During the course of
malarial infection, the parasites as well as the red blood cells (RBCs) come under
oxidative stress and the host system responds in an attempt to protect the RBCs against
the damage caused by Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) by producing antioxidants. This
study investigated the protective role of ROS in relation to malaria parasitaemia levels.
One hundred and fifty (150) structured questionnaires were administered to the guardians
of participants (children up to 12 years old). Blood samples were collected to estimate
the parasitaemia levels and to measure the haematological parameters. Activities of
superoxide dismutase and DNA comet assay were used to evaluate extent of damage on
parasite DNA as a result of oxidative stress.
Participants who tested positive for malaria parasitaemia were categorized either as
severe (high parasitaemia; 56.75 x 10 3 ± 57.69/μl) or uncomplicated malaria (low
parasitaemia; 5.87 x 10 3 ± 2.87/μl), whiles those who tested negative were categorized as
controls. Quantitative analysis of the impact of SOD activity on malaria parasites showed
that participants with severe malaria had low SOD activity (295.33 ± 211.40) U/ml while
the uncomplicated had high SOD activity levels (520.69 ± 275.10) U/ml. Which was
significant (P<0.05). There was also a significant difference (P<0.05) in the levels of
haemoglobin (Hb), neutrophils and lymphocytes between the different study groups. The
study indicated that, ROS plays a pivotal role as a first-line anti-parasitic defense in P.
falciparum malaria infection. Hence, addition of anti-oxidant foods and fruits to the
routine anti-malarial treatments should be recommended during the infection.
Description
Thesis (MPHIL)-University of Ghana, 2013