Determination of relationship between blood groups and Kala-Azar in Thi-Qar province, Iraq

الملخص EN

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) or Kala-azar is still a health problem caused by parasitic infection among children in Iraq.

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between blood groups and VL among Thi-qar patients in Iraq.

A total of 103 children of VL cases from Bint-Al-Huda Hospital in Thi-Qar province diagnosed by using serological dipstick rk39 test during the period from the first of January 2013 till the end of December 2013.

Blood samples collected on slides were tested for directed agglutination with commercial antisera for blood group typing.

There were 53 (51.4 %) males and 50 (48.5 %) females infected with visceral leishmaniasis, their ages were from 7 months to 9 years.

The high prevalence was found in blood group A (48.54%) and low prevalence in blood group O (8.73%).

Statistically, there are no significant differences (p>0.05) between males and females infection with VL, while there are significant differences (p<0.05) among different types of blood groups infection.

in conclusion, The results showed that the blood groups type are associated with the occurrence of VL in Thi-qar patients in Iraq.