Abstract
ABO blood groups have been proposed to influence malaria parasite infection and disease severity in individuals residing in different geographical areas. In Thailand, genetic polymorphisms of blood groups and susceptibility to malaria infection have rarely been investigated. The aim of this study was to assess the genotype frequencies of ABO and Duffy blood groups and susceptibility to malaria infection in two populations residing in malaria-endemic areas of Thailand. 1100 malaria samples and an identical number of samples from healthy subjects were collected from Thai-Malaysian and Thai-Myanmar areas. Genotyping of ABO and Duffy blood groups was performed by sequence specific primer-polymerase chain reaction. The distribution of ABO and Duffy blood groups was similar in malaria-positive and negative subjects. Blood group O was prevalent in both populations followed by blood group B (BO genotype) and A (AO genotype), respectively. In Plasmodium falciparum infections, blood group A frequency was significantly higher in Thai-Malaysian samples (P = 0.042) whereas blood group B frequency was significantly higher in Thai-Myanmar samples (P = 0.022). FY*A/*A frequency was significantly higher in Plasmodium vivax infection (P = 0.036) while FY*A/*B frequency was significantly higher in healthy subjects (P = 0.005). The different ABO blood group frequencies in the two populations may contribute to susceptibility to P. falciparum infection and the high prevalence of FY*A/*A can confer a risk of P. vivax infection. Further research in various ethnic groups is needed to clarify the association between blood groups and pathogenesis of malaria.
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Acknowledgements
This study was supported by Thammasat University Research Fund [Contract No. TUGG 142/2562] and National Research Council of Thailand in the new researcher development programme according to research and innovation strategic plan for graduated student [Contract No. 19/2562].
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The authors confirm contribution to the paper. Study conception and design was performed by JK. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by JK and PH. The first draft of the manuscript was written by PH. The final version of the manuscript was revised by JK. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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Hongfongfa, P., Kuesap, J. Genotyping of ABO and Duffy blood groups among malaria patients in Thailand. J Parasit Dis 46, 178–185 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12639-021-01432-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12639-021-01432-8