Serum protein polymorphisms and malaria in Madya Pradesh, India

The relationship of serum protein polymorphisms to the presence of malaria antibodies was studied in 473 muria gond tribal subjects from Bastar district, Central India, an area endemic for both P. falciparum and P. vivax infection. A control group of 100 subjects in Delhi, which has a low prevalence of malaria, was also studied. Serum proteins (transferrin, haptoglobin and albumin) were analyzed for polymorphic variants by starch gel electrophoresis. Malarial antibodies were assayed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), while thin blood films were screened for the presence of malaria parasites. Among serum proteins transferrin CD variant showed significant correlation with malarial infection. There were no significant differences observed between Hp1 and Hp2 variants of haptoglobin in relation to presence of malarial antibodies. Statistical analysis for albumin variants was not attempted because the number of individuals showing abnormal bands was small.