Association between Phenylthiocarbamide Taste Perception and Falciparum Malaria Infection | Chapter 03 | Recent Advances in Biological Research Vol. 4
Aim:
To examine the association between the ability to taste PTC and falciparum
malaria infection.
Study
Design: A cross sectional study.
Place
and Duration of Study: Ladoke Akintola University of
Technology Teaching Hospital, Osun State General Hospital and Department of
Biomedical Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, College of
Health Sciences, Osogbo, Nigeria between March and November 2012.
Methodology:
A total of 567 individuals (276 males and 291 females) of age ≥16 years
participated in this study after clinical examination and informed consent was
obtained. The participants consisted of three groups. The first group consisted
of 242 patients with symptomatic malaria. The second group consisted of 151
individuals with asymptomatic malaria while the third group (control group)
consisted of 174 apparently healthy individuals without malaria as of the time
of investigation. A sample of 2mL of blood was withdrawn from each participant
for examination of malaria parasite. Thick and thin Giemsa stained blood smear
were prepared for malaria parasite identification. Tasters and non-tasters were
determined among the participants using phenylthiocarbamide (PTC) taste strips.
Results:
The number of tasters among symptomatic malaria subjects (81.8%) and
asymptomatic malaria subjects (80.1%) was significantly higher than controls
(70.1%). There were significant differences between symptomatic malaria
subjects and controls(p = 0.005), between asymptomatic malaria subjects and
controls (p = 0.038) but insignificant difference between symptomatic and
asymptomatic malaria subjects (p = 0.678).
Conclusion:
Our findings show that among this study population, falciparum malaria is more
associated with tasters than non-tasters. We observed a significant association
between ability to taste PTC and falciparum malaria infection reiterating the
fact that individuals’ responses to infection have a strong genetic basis.
Understanding the genetics of a population can enhance better management and
prevention of diseases.
Author(s) Details
Dr. C. Igbeneghu
Department of Biomedical
Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology.
P.M.B 4400, Osogbo. Nigeria.
Y. Owoeye
Department of Biomedical
Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology.
P.M.B 4400, Osogbo. Nigeria.
Dr. E. O. Akanni
Department of Biomedical
Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology.
P.M.B 4400, Osogbo. Nigeria.
Comments
Post a Comment