Sickle-cell Rates in Kenya and the Southern Sudan

Abstract

CELL TRAIT AND MALARIA Africans without the sickle-cell trait, whereas in a comparable group of 15 Africans with the trait only 2 developed parasites.It is concluded that the abnormal erythrocytes of individuals with the sickle-cell trait are less easily parasitized by P. falciparum than are normal erythrocytes.Hence those who are heterozygous for the sickle-cell gene will have a selective advantage in regions where malaria is hyperendemic.This fact may explain why the sickle-cell gene remains common in these areas in spite of the elimination of genes in patients dying of sickle-cell anaemia.The implications of these observations in other branches of haematology are discussed.This investigation was made possible by a grant received from the Colonial Office at