Effect of Malaria Parasite on Hepatic Parameters in People Living in Aba Metropolis

Purpose: In Nigeria, malaria continues to be a huge public health problem. Incidentally, malaria is caused by either Plasmodium falciparum or Plasmodium vivax. Malaria associated deaths in Metropolis area is mainly due to Plasmodium falciparum. Plasmodium parasite is primarily transmitted by the bite of an infected female anopheles mosquito during blood meal though this can also occur through exposure to infected blood products (blood transfusion) and by congenital transmission. This study therefore aimed at investigating the effect of malaria parasite on hepatocytes by monitoring enzyme activities such as the transaminases and the excretory function of the liver (bilirubin). Methodology: This study was a cross-sectional study where hundred adults participated. A total of 50 patients' samples (adults) both male and female were collected from the same geographic location and fifty were selected as control and another fifty for the test. Examination of a thick blood film stained with Giemsa was done to confirm the presence of plasmodium and its absence as control. The activities of Aspartate transaminase, Alanine transaminase and bilirubin level was determined using Redox enzymatic kit Standard methods. Data obtained were statistically analyzed using students t-test where P<0.05 was considered significant. Findings: There was a positive relationship between the enzyme activities and the level of parasitemia (P<90.05). Derangement in AST (13.30±4.48U/L), ALT (13.9±4.52U/L), TB (3.92± 1.30U/L), CB (0.56 ±0.28U/L) levels for the infected subjects were higher when compared with controls .This study has demonstrated that the invasion of the hepatocytes by the malaria parasite causes the liberation of the transaminase into the blood serum and equally, the excretory function through elevation of bilirubin of the liver was affected. Recommendation: This study recommend transaminases and bilirubin to be assessed to assist in disease detection, prompt diagnosis and intervention especially in endemic malaria area.