Sickle Trait Hemoglobin does not influence anopheles biting rates – includes authors affiliated with the School of Medicine and College of Health Sciences, Moi University.

Abstract

Children with sickle cell trait (HbAS) are protected against severe and symptomatic Plasmodium falciparum malaria. While several within-host resistance mechanisms have been investigated, it is unknown whether this protection may be attributable in part to reductions in exposure to P. falciparum parasites via mosquito bites. In a 15-month 28 cohort in Western Kenya, we matched mosquito bloodmeals to human hosts based on short tandem repeat (STR) genotypes to determine individual mosquito biting rates. Using a multilevel multivariable model, we assessed mosquito biting behavior with respect to human b-globin genotypes and found no significant difference in the biting rates between individuals with HbAA and HbAS genotypes (biting rate ratio (BRR): 1.23, 95% CI: 0.86 - 1.77). These findings suggest that protection from malaria conferred by sickle trait is likely not attributable to reduced exposure to infectious mosquito bites