Evaluation of Total Protein in Malaria Parasitaemia
Roseanne Adah Ikpeama *
Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Benjamin Nnamdi Okolonkwo
Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Clement Ugochukwu Nyenke
Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Chukwubike Udoka Okeke
Department of Prosthetics and Orthotics, School of Health Technology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
Chinonye Oluchi Ezenwaka
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Federal University Otuoke, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Malaria endemicity is most common in the tropical region, continuous transmission still occurs in about 85 countries and regions. The liver is very essential in overall body physiology and it plays a very important role in the life cycle of malaria and its function may be altered due to malaria parasitaemia. This cross sectional study was aimed at evaluating the level of total protein in malaria parasitaemia among children attending Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital, Palmars, Omega Children Hospital, Early Breed Group of Schools, St Francis Nursery and Primary school and Staff Nursery and Primary school in Port Harcourt, Rivers state Nigeria. Of the 1000 subjects within 1-10 years, 694 subjects had malaria parasitaemia while 306 subjects had no malaria and thus made up the control group. Venipuncture technique was used to collect samples for estimation of malaria parasite density and total protein (TP) using biuret method. The results showed low (873.8±30.44), moderate (3248±109.31) and high malaria (24813.8±877.22) densities with TP values of 42.70±0.50g/l, 43.21±0.60g/l and 39.64±0.60g/l respectively. There was a significant difference (P-value<0.05) in total protein (TP) levels among various groups of malaria densities. This study has shown that the impact of malaria on the liver health vary depending on the level of the infestation.
Keywords: Evaluation, total protein, malaria, parasitaemia