International Journal of Research and Reports in Hematology

Comparative Study of Derangements in Some Indices of Platelet Function among Asymptomatic COVID-19 and Malaria Infected Subjects in a Tropical Setting

Ekprikpo, Erens Spiff *

Haematology and Blood Transfusion Science Unit, Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

Ken-Ezihuo, Stella Urekweru

Haematology and Blood Transfusion Science Unit, Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

Jeremiah, Zaccheaus Awortu

Haematology and Blood Transfusion Science Unit, Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

---

Abstract

The coronavirus (COVID-19) infection is one of the emerging infections that has ravaged the world. The hypercoagulable status reported in severe malaria infection, which implicates the involvement of platelets, has also been reported in COVID-19 infection. This study was carried out to evaluate platelet indices among malaria and COVID-19 positive subjects in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. The cross-sectional, case-control study design was employed for this study, where a total of fifty-five (55) malaria positive subjects, fifty-five (55) COVID-19 positive subjects, fifty-five (55) co-infected subjects and fifty-five (55) control subjects who were within the ages of twenty (20) to sixty-five (65) years old. Five millilitres (5ml) of venous blood was collected aseptically and dispensed into Ethylene Diamine Tetraacetic acid (EDTA) anticoagulant bottle for the assay of platelet indices and malaria parasite detection from the thick blood film that was made. Also nasopharyngeal swab was collected for confirmation of COVID-19 positive subjects using RT-PCR technique. The mean values of the PDW of the subjects were as follows; malaria parasite subjects (15.21 ± 0.22 fL), COVID-19 subjects (15.21 ± 0.22 fL), COVID-19 + malaria subjects (15.61 ± 0.21 fL) and control subjects (13.26 ± 0.17 fL). These results revealed that the mean PDW values were significantly higher in COVID-19 and malaria subjects as well as in co-infection with COVID-19 and malaria. (F-value = 25.850, p = 0.001). No significant changes were observed in the other platelet parameters (platelet count, mean platelet volume and plateletcrit) (p> 0.05). Amongst other platelet parameters, the platelet distribution width appear to possess a potential diagnostic value for mild/asymptomatic COVID-19 and the case is not different in malaria infection in the tropical region of Nigeria.

Keywords: COVID-19, platelet indices, co-infection, malaria, Nigeria, Port Harcourt

---

---

---

References

Bchetnia M, Girard C, Duchaine C, Laprise C. The outbreak of the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2): A review of the current global status. Journal of Infection and Public Health. 2020;13(11):1601-1610.

Rahman MT, Sobur MA, Islam MS, Ievy S, Hossain MJ, El Zowalaty ME, Rahman AMMT, Ashour HM. Zoonotic diseases: Etiology, impact, and control. Microorganisms. 2020;8(9):1405.

Park SE. Epidemiology, virology, and clinical features of severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2; Coronavirus Disease-21). Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics. 2020;63(4):121.

Lekhraj Rampal MBBS, Seng LB. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Medical Journal of Malaysia. 2020;75(2):95.

Milner DA. Malaria pathogenesis. Cold Spring Harbor Perspectives in Medicine. 2018;8(1):a025569.

Gutman JR, Lucchi NW, Cantey PT, Steinhardt LC, Samuels AM, Kamb ML, Lindblade KA. Malaria and parasitic neglected tropical diseases: potential syndemics with COVID-19?. The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 2020;103(2):572.

Budak YU, Polat M, Huysal K. The use of platelet indices, plateletcrit, mean platelet volume and platelet distribution width in emergency non-traumatic abdominal surgery: a systematic review. Biochemia Medica. 2016;26(2):178-193.

Purbiya P, Golwala ZM, Manchanda A, Sreenivas V, Puliyel JM. Platelet distribution width to platelet count ratio as an index of severity of illness. The Indian Journal of Pediatrics. 2018;85(1):10-14.

Bayleyegn B, Asrie F, Yalew A, Woldu B. Role of platelet indices as a potential marker for malaria severity. Journal of Parasitology Research; 2021.

Adeleye MO, Musa B, Oyebanjo O, Gbenu ST, Alayande SO. Activity concentration of natural radionuclides and assessment of the associated radiological hazards in the marine croaker (Pseudotolitus typus) fish from two coastal areas of Nigeria. Science World Journal. 2020;15(2):90- 95.

Sajini FI, Ijeh NP. Sociodemographic effects of child labour and its communication in Southern Nigeria: A case study of Portharcourt City, Rivers State, Nigeria. Review of International Geographical Education Online. 2021; 11(10):2164-2172.

Evoh OP, Anireh VIE, Taylor OE. Urban growth development using group method of data handling. European Journal of Information Technologies and Computer Science. 2022;2(3):10-16.

Kotrlik JWKJW, Higgins CCHCC. Organizational research: Determining appropriate sample size in survey research appropriate sample size in survey research. Information Technology, Learning, and Performance Journal. 2001; 21(1):43.

Chiedozie AP, Chukwuebuka OJ, Chidimma CF, Onyinyechi OV, Chijioke AK, Chibuzor OS, Chioma UB. Willingness to accept a potential COVID-19 vaccine in Nigeria. American Journal of Medical Science. 2021;9(1):1-5.

Nagy M, Fazaeli S, van Oerle R, Ten Cate H, Schemmann M, Sherry J, Spronk HM. Evaluation of the analytical performance of the PC100 platelet counter. Thrombosis Journal. 2021;19(1):1-8.

Hathiwala R, Mehta PR, Nataraj G, Hathiwala S. LED fluorescence microscopy: Novel method for malaria diagnosis compared with routine methods. Journal of Infection and Public Health. 2017;10(6):824-828.

Arya M, Shergill IS, Williamson M, Gommersall L, Arya N, Patel HR. Basic principles of real-time quantitative PCR. Expert Review of Molecular Diagnostics. 2005;5(2):209-219.

Maina RN, Walsh D, Gaddy C, Hongo G, Waitumbi J, Otieno L, Ogutu BR. Impact of Plasmodium falciparum infection on haematological parameters in children living in Western Kenya. Malaria Journal. 2010;9(3):1-11.

Tangvarasittichai O, Srikong M, Tangvarasittichai S. Platelet count and platelet indices used as potential markers for first malaria infection diagnosis. International Journal. 2016;8(10):1454-1458.

Onosakponome EO, Wogu MN. The role of sex in Malaria-COVID19 coinfection and some associated factors in rivers state, Nigeria. Journal of Parasitology Research; 2020.

Güçlü E, Kocayiğit H, Okan HD, Erkorkmaz U, Yürümez Y, Yaylacı S, Karabay O. Effect of COVID-19 on platelet count and its indices. Revista da Associação Médica Brasileira. 2020; 66:1122-1127.