Malaria and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency

Abstract

DRS. C. Kidson and J. G. Gorman1 report observations on frequencies of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency in different parts of New Guinea and New Britain, which make a welcome addition to our knowledge of the population genetics of this area. They note that low frequencies of G6PD deficiency occur in some populations living in malarious parts of New Guinea, New Britain and elsewhere. On the basis of this fact, and a report2 suggesting that "no significant difference in Pl. falciparum parasite densities occurs between affected and normal children under 3 years of age in Thailand and that affected children in this age-group may have higher densities of the non-lethal Pl. vivax", Kidson and Gorman issue "a challenge to the concept of selection by malaria in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency". © 1963 Nature Publishing Group.