| dc.description.abstract | Reticulocytosis is an imp~rtant previously unappreciated surrogate marker of recent
Plasmodium Jalciparum reticulocyte parasitation. Evidence from studies in murine rand
primate models show increased prevalence nf Plasmodium Jalciparum parasitisation of
reticulocytes. The increase in reticulocyte infection has been attributed to compensatory
reticulocytosis and increased parasite densities However, the prevalence of P. falciparum
parasitisation of reticulocytes in human p~Pl-lations in holoendemic areas of malaria is
unknown. Therefore, the current study examier ~the prevalence of P.falciparum parasitation
ofreticulocytes and its association with clinical parasitological and haematological outcomes
in children (n=164) and adults (n=41) with <::\~t.eP. falciparum malaria and healthy malaria
negative controls (children, n=132 and adultr, l=60) from a holoendemic area of malaria of
western Kenya. Malaria diagnosis and species identification was performed using Giemsa
stained thick and thin blood smears while reticrocyte parasitation was determined using New
Methylene Blue- Giemsa counter-stained thini Led films. Results of this study showed that
children with malaria presented with increased lumbers of infected reticulocytes compared to
adults with malaria (p=0.006; Mann- Whitne: ~j test). In addition, children with malaria
presented with higher reticulocyte counts .x» apared to those without malaria (p<0.0001;
Mann-Whitney U test). Dichotomization of': h ldren and adults with malaria into presence or
absence of infected reticulocytes revealec 1 iat presence of infected reticulocytes was
associated with higher parasite densities (p<O.O 101andp<O.OOOI;Mann- Whitney U test) and
increased prevalence ofHDP (high density pan sitaemia, 2::10,000parasites/ul.) (p=O.073 and
p<O.OOOI; Fisher's exact test) in both adults an I»hildren, respectively. Erythrocytic analyses
revealed that increased infection of reticulocyte; in children with malaria was associated with
higher reticulocyte count (p<O.OOOl; Mann if Ltney U test) and increased reticulocytosis
(RPI, reticulocyte production index) (p<O.(j;lOl , Mann-Whitney U test). Correlation analysis | en_US |
