Correlation of Malaria Parasite Density with Values of Red Cell and White Cell Parameters in Plasmodium Falciparum Infected Subjects

Ogbonna Chioma Esther; Okeke Chizoba Okechukwu; Ibeh Nancy Chiatogu; Corresponding author

doi:10.56201/ijhpr.vol.11.no3.2026.pg27.34

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Correlation of Malaria Parasite Density with Values of Red Cell and White Cell Parameters in Plasmodium Falciparum Infected Subjects

Ogbonna Chioma Esther, Okeke Chizoba Okechukwu, Ibeh Nancy Chiatogu, ., Corresponding author

Abstract

Malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum malaria remains a major public health concern, particularly in endemic areas such as Nigeria where it continues to contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality. This study was aimed at correlating the values of red cell and white cell indices with parasite density in malaria infected subjects. The study included a total of 90 adult participants of both genders comprising 50 Plasmodium falciparum infected subjects and 40 malaria non-infected control participants. Red cell and white cell parameters were carried out using automated blood cell analyzers. Malaria diagnosis and parasite density were determined using thick and thin blood films techniques. Data was analysed using Statistical package for social sciences version 25. The findings of the study show that the mean values of Monocyte (%), mean cell volume (Fl) and mean cell haemoglobin (pg) were significantly reduced in the Plasmodium. falciparum infected participants than in the non-infected control subjects (P<0.05). There was significant moderate positive correlation between the mean malaria parasite density and Monocyte count (r = 0.326; p = 0.015) and a significant moderate negative correlation between MPD and white blood cell count (r = - 0.373; p = 0.005). There was no significant difference in the red cell and white cell parameters when compared between male P. falciparum infected and female P. falciparum infected subjects (P > 0.05). This study demonstrates that Plasmodium falciparum infection is associated with some alterations in white and red cell indices, with microcytic and hypochromic changes depicted by a reduction in MCV and MCH.

Keywords

Plasmodium falcipariumRed cell indicesWhite cell indicesMalaria parasite density.

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Correlation of Malaria Parasite Density with Values of Red Cell and White Cell Parameters in Plasmodium Falciparum Infected Subjects

Abstract

Keywords

References

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