Is there haemoglobin-phenotype selectivity for proneness to intestinal infestations?

Abstract

A smaller proportion of worm-carrying Hb.SS than Hb.SC patients were found to have hookworm ova in their stools. On the other hand of 67 Ascaris-positive stools (25.4%) were from SC and 74.6% from SS patients. Hookworm was thought to require a higher haematocrit to thrive, while considerations of intestinal tone would make the Ascaris prefer the SS gut to SC. Further studies on siblings with different phenotypes are needed to elaborate the present findings. � 2017 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.