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Prevalence of the sickle cell trait in Gabon: a nationwide study

Lucrèce M Délicat-Loembet1, Eric Elguero2, Céline Arnathau2

  • 1Centre International de Recherches Médicales de Franceville, CIRMF, BP 769 Franceville, Gabon; MIVEGEC (UMR CNRS/IRD/UM1/UM2 5290) CHRU de Montpellier, 39 Av. C. Flahault, 34295 Montpellier, France.

Infection, Genetics and Evolution : Journal of Molecular Epidemiology and Evolutionary Genetics in Infectious Diseases
|April 15, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) affects 21.1% of Gabonese adults. Prevalence varies by province and population group, with Bantu populations showing higher rates than Pygmy populations. No homozygous SCD patients were found.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Science
  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is a major child mortality cause in Africa and a public health priority.
  • Previous SCD research has focused on continental or local scales, lacking country-specific data for Gabon.
  • Gabon's SCD epidemiology remains poorly understood, necessitating targeted investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To map the distribution and prevalence of Sickle Cell Trait (SCT) in the Republic of Gabon.
  • To investigate variations in SCT prevalence across different Gabonese provinces and ethnic groups.
  • To identify factors associated with SCT, such as age, sex, and Plasmodium infection.

Main Methods:

  • Collected 4250 blood samples from individuals over 15 years old across 210 villages in Gabon (2005-2008).
  • Screened for Sickle Cell Trait (SCT) carriers using isoelectric focusing (IEF) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).
  • Assessed Plasmodium sp. presence via thick blood smear and analyzed associations with SCT prevalence.

Main Results:

  • Overall SCT prevalence in Gabon was 21.1% (895/4249).
  • SCT prevalence was significantly higher in the Bantu population (21.7%) compared to the Pygmy population (12.1%).
  • Age was positively associated with SCT prevalence; no association was found with sex. No homozygous SCD patients were identified.

Conclusions:

  • Gabon exhibits significant regional and ethnic variations in SCT prevalence.
  • Findings highlight the need for tailored public health strategies for SCD prevention and resource allocation in Gabon.
  • The absence of homozygous SCD patients warrants further investigation into disease dynamics within the country.

Keywords:
BantuEcologyEvolutionGabonPygmySickle Cell Disease

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