South Asian Journal of Research in Microbiology

Malaria occurrence and its severity have been related to many host factors including ABO blood groups. Timely transfusion of blood products is crucial, particularly in critical medical situations. This study explores the relationship between Plasmodium infection and ABO blood group and among blood donors in Onitsha between October 2024 and August, 2025. A total of 305 blood samples were collected from the blood donors consisting of 179 commercial donors, 44 volunteer donors, and 82 relation donors using venipuncture. Thick and thin blood films were used for the examination of the blood samples. The ABO and Rhesus phenotypes were classified using the standard procedure of cell grouping technique. Of the blood samples examined, 172(56.4%) were positive for malaria parasites. The commercial donors statistically had highest infection rate 113(63.1%). P. falciparum was the most common species of Plasmodium infection in the study area. Male donors were more infected (62.5%) than female donors (46.5%). Donors in the age group 20-25 years were the most infected (66.7%). Donors who were traders had the highest prevalence of malaria (64.0%) and those with secondary education equally had the highest prevalence of malaria (73.2%). There was a significant difference in the prevalence of mild malaria (75.6%) and moderate malaria (24.4%). Malaria parasitaemia also significantly varied with occupation, and education (p<0.05), but not with sex, age, Prevalence of Plasmodium infection among blood donors equally varied with ABO blood group; O (72.7%), A (56.5%), B (29.4%) and AB (36.2%). Subjects with blood group O had the highest prevalence of Plasmodium infection than other blood groups. The association of blood group O with high prevalence of Plasmodium infection might suggest that O antigen is more susceptible to Plasmodium infection than non O antigens. However, no special predilection was noted in regards to blood groups and Plasmodium infection.