polymorphism, haematological parameters, and severe malaria in Senegalese patients.

Background: Host factors, including host genetic variation, have been shown to influence the outcome of infection. Genome-wide linkage studies have mapped mild malaria resistance genes on chromosome 6p21, whereas polymorphism (rs2736191) lying within this region was found to be associated with mild malaria.

Methods: Blood samples were taken from 188 malaria patients (76 mild malaria patients, 85 cerebral malaria patients, and 27 severe non-cerebral malaria patients). (rs2736191) was analysed by sequencing, and haematological parameters were measured. Finally, their association with clinical phenotypes was assessed.

Results: We evidenced an association of thrombocytopenia with both cerebral malaria and severe non-cerebral malaria, and of an association of high leukocyte count with cerebral malaria. Additionally, we found no association of with either cerebral malaria, severe non-cerebral malaria, or severe malaria after grouping cerebral malaria and severe non-cerebral malaria patients.

Conclusions: Our results suggest that genetic variation has no effect, or only a small effect on the occurrence of severe malaria, although it has been strongly associated with mild malaria. We discuss the biological meaning of these results. Besides, we confirmed the association of thrombocytopenia and high leukocyte count with severe malaria phenotypes.