[Oxygen transport capacity of blood in athletes with malarial infection].

The purpose of the present investigation was to examine the effects of the malaria parasite on the oxygen capacity of blood. 15 males basket-ball players (mean +/- SE: age: 17-30 +/- 1,44 years; weight = 63.20 +/- 6.55 kg; height: 177.99 +/- 0.10 cm) were volunteered to take part in this study. Nine subjects were infected by the malaria parasite, but seemed healthy. Six other subjects were really healthy. The oxygen capacity of blood was decreased in the infected group when compared with the noninfected group (15.86 +/- 1.59 ml vs 17.64 +/- 0.62 ml) (p < 0.05). The comparison of all other hematologic data showed them all reduced in the infected group: total number of erythrocytes = 4.90 +/- 0.50 x 10(9)/ml vs 5.03 +/- 0.33 x 10(9)/ml (p < 0.05), mean cellular volume (CMV): 71.75 +/- 6.37 fl vs 77.67 +/- 5.74 fl (p < 0.01), hemoglobin concentration ([Hb]): 11.84 +/- 1.19 g/100 ml vs 13.16 +/- 0.46 g/100 ml (p < 0.05), hematocrit: 35.22 +/- 2.86% vs 38.93 +/- 1.18% (p < 0.05). The chronic anemia induced by the malaria might theorically limit the oxygen capacity of blood, which constitutes an important factor for the aerobic performance.