Prevalence of G-6-PD deficiency in a malaria endemic tribal area of Orissa (India).

A total of 207 men belonging to Bhuyan, Juanga and Munda tribes and 108 non-tribal residents of Banspal block area of Keonjhar district of Orissa were screened for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) deficiency, abnormal haemoglobin and malaria parasite. In the tribal group, G-6-PD enzyme deficiency was observed in 13.52 per cent as compared to 3.70 per cent in non-tribals. No abnormal haemoglobin was detected in the studied population, while 15.87 per cent of individuals were positive for Plasmodium falciparum. An extremely weak association was observed between malaria and G-6-PD deficiency.