Prevalence and risk of Plasmodium vivax infection among Duffy-negative individuals: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

A better understanding of the occurrence and risk of Plasmodium vivax infection among Duffy-negative individuals is required to guide further research on these infections across Africa. To address this, we used a meta-analysis approach to investigate the prevalence of P. vivax infection among Duffy-negative individuals and assessed the risk of infection in these individuals when compared with Duffy-positive individuals. This study was registered with The International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews website (ID: CRD42021240202) and followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic review and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Literature searches were conducted using medical subject headings to retrieve relevant studies in Medline, Web of Science, and Scopus, from February 22, 2021 to January 31, 2022. Selected studies were methodologically evaluated using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Tools to assess the quality of cross-sectional, case–control, and cohort studies. The pooled prevalence of P. vivax infection among Duffy-negative individuals and the odds ratio (OR) of infection among these individuals when compared with Duffy-positive individuals was estimated using a random-effects model. Results from individual studies were represented in forest plots. Heterogeneity among studies was assessed using Cochrane Q and I² statistics. We also performed subgroup analysis of patient demographics and other relevant variables. Publication bias among studies was assessed using funnel plot asymmetry and the Egger’s test. Of 1593 retrieved articles, 27 met eligibility criteria and were included for analysis. Of these, 24 (88.9%) reported P. vivax infection among Duffy-negative individuals in Africa, including Cameroon, Ethiopia, Sudan, Botswana, Nigeria, Madagascar, Angola, Benin, Kenya, Mali, Mauritania, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Senegal; while three reported occurrences in South America (Brazil) and Asia (Iran). Among studies, 11 reported that all P. vivax infection cases occurred in Duffy-negative individuals (100%). Also, a meta-analysis on 14 studies showed that the pooled prevalence of P. vivax infection among Duffy-negative individuals was 25% (95% confidence interval (CI) − 3%–53%, I² = 99.96%). A meta-analysis of 11 studies demonstrated a decreased odds of P. vivax infection among Duffy-negative individuals (p = 0.009, pooled OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.26–0.82, I² = 80.8%). We confirmed that P. vivax infected Duffy-negative individuals over a wide prevalence range from 0 to 100% depending on geographical area. Future investigations on P. vivax infection in these individuals must determine if Duffy-negativity remains a protective factor for P. vivax infection.

Introduction

While Plasmodium falciparum is the most prevalent malaria parasite in the World Health Organization African Region and accounted for 99.7% of estimated malaria cases in 2018¹, there are increasing reports of P. vivax infection across Africa^2,3. P. vivax infection of human erythrocytes requires the presence of a glycoprotein on the surface of red bloods, the Duffy blood group antigen or the Duffy Antigen Receptor for Chemokines (DARC)^4,5. DARC is also the receptor for the simian malarial parasite, Plasmodium knowlesi⁶. DARC binds to P. vivax Duffy binding protein (PvDBP) before it invade erythrocytes^7,8. The Duffy blood group is expressed by the FY gene on chromosome 1, and is genotyped as FY (a), FY (b), FY (a)^ES, and FY (b)^ES9. Duffy phenotypes, including Fy(a + b +), Fy(a + b −), and Fy(a − b +) are Duffy-positive phenotypes, while Fy(a − b −) or FY (a)^ES(b)^ES are Duffy-negative phenotypes. The Fy(a − b −) phenotype is caused by homozygosity of the FY allele carrying a point mutation at 67T > C (rs2814778) which prevents Duffy antigen expression in red blood cells¹⁰.

The Duffy-negative phenotype is highly predominant in sub-Saharan African populations, with high phenotype median frequencies of 98%–100% in west, mid, and south-eastern regions⁵. Recent studies reported that Duffy-negative individuals have a risk of P. vivax infection^11,12. It was also postulated that P. vivax infections were passed back and forth between Duffy-positive and Duffy-negative individuals by P. vivax-infected mosquitoes parasitizing Duffy-positive individuals and transmitting parasites to Duffy-negative individuals¹³. As P. vivax infection can lead to severe malaria with poor outcomes¹⁴, a better understanding of P. vivax infection occurrence and risk among Duffy-negative individuals is required to guide further epidemiological research in Africa. Therefore, using a meta-analysis approach, we investigated P. vivax infection prevalence among Duffy-negative individuals and assessed the risk of infection among these individuals when compared with Duffy-positive individuals.

Methods

Protocol and registration

This study followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic review and Meta-Analyses guidelines¹⁵. The review was registered at The International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews website (ID: CRD42021240202).

Search strategy

Literature searches were conducted using medical subject headings in the National Library of Medicine and terms related to P. vivax malaria and Duffy status. The following search terms were used: “DBP” OR “D binding protein” OR “D-element-binding protein” OR “DBP transcription factor” OR “D-site binding protein.” Search terms are shown (Table S1). Medline, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched from the February 22, 2021 to the January 31, 2022. Additional searches of reference lists and review articles were also performed to ensure literature saturation.

Eligibility criteria

Cross-sectional, cohort, and case–control studies were considered if they reported P. vivax infections among Duffy-negative individuals. P. vivax infection was confirmed by microscopic or molecular analysis. Duffy genotypes or phenotypes were characterized by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphisms, with and without sequencing. Only articles in English were included. The following articles were excluded: no Duffy-negative individuals among P. vivax cases, genetic analysis of the Duffy protein, no report on Duffy status, case reports and case series, experimental studies, clinical trials, and studies from which data could not be extracted.

Study selection

Study selection was performed in Endnote (Version X8, Clarivate Analytics, USA) by two authors (PW and MK). Discrepancies between authors on study selection were resolved by consensus and discussion with a third author (KUK). After retrieving articles, duplicated articles were removed. The remaining articles were title and abstract screened, after which irrelevant studies were excluded. The remaining article texts were examined according to eligibility criteria. All excluded articles were assigned appropriate reasons. Selected articles were further extracted using a standardized pilot datasheet.

Data extraction

The standardized pilot datasheet included the following: first author name, year of publication, study site, year the study was conducted, participants, age, gender, number of patients with malaria, number of P. vivax cases, number of P. vivax infections among Duffy-negative individuals, number of P. vivax infections among Duffy-positive individuals, malaria identification methods, and Duffy status. Two authors (PW and MK) independently collected these data. Disagreements over data extraction were resolved by discussion. Data were randomly checked by a third author (FRM) for completeness, plausibility, and integrity, before data was processed.

Study quality

The methodological quality of selected studies was evaluated using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Tools for assessing cross-sectional, case–control, and cohort studies¹⁶. The tool for cross-sectional studies comprised eight checklists, whereas 10 and 11 were used for case–control and cohort studies, respectively. Studies with > 75%, 50%, and ≤ 50% scores indicated high, moderate, or low quality, respectively. Study quality was assessed by two authors (PW and MK).

Study outcomes

The primary study outcome was the pooled prevalence of P. vivax infection among Duffy-negative individuals. The secondary outcome was the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of P. vivax infection among Duffy-negative individuals when compared with Duffy-positive individuals.

Data processing

Primary and secondary study outcomes were both estimated using the random-effects model. This model was used in the presence of heterogeneity of the effect estimates (ES) (pooled prevalence or OR); meanwhile, the fixed-effects model was used in the absence of heterogeneity of the ES. The results from individual studies were graphically represented on forest plots. Heterogeneity among studies was assessed using Cochrane Q and I² statistics. A Cochrane Q p < 0.05 indicated significant heterogeneity among studies. I² statistics were used to quantify heterogeneity; I² > 50% indicated substantial heterogeneity. If heterogeneity existed, the random-effects model was used for pooled the pooled prevalence and OR, and if no heterogeneity was observed, the fixed-effects model was used for pooled the pooled prevalence and OR. Meta-regression analysis was performed to determine the source(s) of heterogeneity of ES (pooled prevalence, OR) among studies. If the source(s) of heterogeneity was identified, a subgroup analysis was conducted. We performed sensitivity analysis of the pooled prevalence and the odds of infection between Duffy-negative individuals using the fixed-effects model to determine the robustness of our meta-analysis results.

Publication bias

Publication bias was assessed by visualizing funnel plot asymmetry and the Egger’s test. Funnel plot asymmetry indicated publication bias. A significant Egger’s test (p < 0.05) indicated that funnel plot asymmetry was due to a small study effect. If the funnel plot was asymmetrical (by visualization or a significant Egger’s test), a contour-enhanced funnel plot was generated to identify if funnel plot asymmetry was due to publication bias or other causes.

Results

Search results

Of 1593 retrieved articles, 806 were retained after duplicated articles were removed. After screening title and abstracts of 787 articles, 707 were excluded due to irrelevance (Fig. 1). Thus, 80 articles were examined for full texts and 54 excluded due to the following reasons: nine full texts were unavailable, nine texts reported no P. vivax cases in Duffy-negative patients, four texts had no Duffy-negative patients with P. vivax infection, four texts indicated prior exposure to malaria and Duffy status, four texts reported Duffy gene polymorphisms and P. vivax infection, four texts had no Duffy data, three texts had Duffy and P. vivax data which could not be extracted, two reported DBP polymorphisms and P. vivax infection, two texts used the same participants, two texts were in vitro studies, two had no P. vivax cases, two reported a Duffy mutation and P. vivax infection, one text was a P. vivax genomic analysis, one text reported P. vivax (1 case) in Duffy-positive patients, one was a letter to the editor, one reported Duffy-negative heterozygotes and a P. vivax infection, one reported Duffy status in non-malaria patients, one was a mosquito-infectivity study, and one was an editorial. Thus, 26 studies^17–42 met eligibility criteria, however, one study⁴³ was identified from the bibliography of a study, therefore 27 studies^17–43 met eligibility criteria and were included.

Figure 1.

Study flow diagram demonstrating study selection process.

Study characteristics

Study characteristics are shown (Table 1). All were published between 2006–2021 and almost all (24/27, 88.9%) reported P. vivax infection among Duffy-negative individuals in Africa. Three studies^20,21,31 were conducted in South America (2/27, 7.4%) and Asia (1/27, 3.7%). Of the 24 African studies, six were conducted in East Africa (Ethiopia^28,43, Madagascar^25,29, Kenya⁴⁰, and Ethiopia⁴¹), seven in Mid Africa (Democratic Republic of Congo¹⁹, Cameroon^{22,23,32,33,39}, Angola, and Equatorial Guinea³⁰), seven in West Africa (Mauritania^24,42, Nigeria^36,37, Senegal³⁴, Mali³⁵, and Benin³⁸), two in North Africa (Sudan^17,18), one in North and East Africa (Ethiopia and Sudan²⁶), and one in Ethiopia/Botswana/Sudan²⁷. Twenty-two articles were cross-sectional studies (22/27, 81.5%), two were case-controls^12,40, and one was a cohort study³⁵. The geographical distribution of studies is shown (Fig. 2).

Table 1.

Characteristics of the included studies.

No	Author, year	Study area (years of the survey)	Study design	Age range (years)	Gender (male, %)	Participants	Method for Plasmodium spp. identification	Target gene for PCR	Number of P. vivax (malaria positive)	Method for Duffy antigen genotyping	Duffy status among P. vivax cases
1	Abdelraheem et al. (2016)	Sudan (2009)	Cross-sectional study	< 10 (38), 10–20 (9), > 20 (1)	22, 45.8	126 suspected malaria patients	Microscopy, RDT and PCR	SSU rRNA	48	PCR–RFLP	Duffy negative: 4/4 Duffy positive: 44
2	Albsheer et al. (2019)	Sudan (2013–2017)	Cross-sectional study	Mean 25 years	Male/female: 1.73	992 microscopy positive samples	Microscopy, PCR	SSU rRNA	190 (992)	Sequencing (190)	Duffy negative: 34/77 Duffy positive: 156/178
3	Brazeau et al. (2021)	Democratic Republic of the Congo (2013–2014)	Cross-sectional study	15–59 years and 15–49 years	NS	17,972 screened for P. vivax infection	PCR	SSU rRNA	467 (5646)	High-Resolution Melt (HRM)	Duffy negative: 464/467 Duffy positive: 3
4	Carvalho et al. (2012)	Brazil (2009)	Cross-sectional study	NS	NS	678 individuals	Microscopy, PCR	mtDNA	19 (137)	Sequencing	Duffy negative: 2/29 Duffy positive: 96/553
5	Cavasini et al. (2007)	Brazil (2003–2005)	Cross-sectional study	18 years	NS	312 patients with P. vivax infection	Microscopy, PCR	NS	312	PCR–RFLP	Duffy negative: 2/312 Duffy positive: 310
6	Dongho et al. (2021)	Cameroon (2016–2017)	Cross-sectional study	Any age	NS	Febrile outpatients (1,001)	PCR	SSU rRNA	181 (37 mixed-infected with P. falciparum, 2 mixed-infected with P. malariae) (482)	PCR–RFLP	Duffy negative: 181/181
7	Fru-Cho et al. (2014)	Cameroon (2008–2009)	Cross-sectional study	18–55 years	NS	269 individuals	Microscopy, PCR	SSU rRNA	13 (4 mixed-infected with P. falciparum and P. malariae	PCR–RFLP, sequencing (12)	Duffy negative: 6/12 Duffy positive: 6/12
8	Gunalan et al. (2017)	Ethiopia	Cross-sectional study	NS	NS	200 symptomatic or febrile patient	Microscopy, PCR	SSU rRNA	200	Sequencing	Duffy negative: 2/71 Duffy positive: NA/129
9	Hamdinou et al. (2017)	Mauritania	Cross-sectional study	NS	NS	129	Microscopy, RDT	–	42 (129)	Indirect anti-globulin assay	Duffy negative: 16/42 Duffy positive: 26
10	Howes et al. (2018)	Madagascar (2014)	Cross-sectional study	19.6 ± 16.5	977, 47.4	2,783 eligible individuals	Microscopy, RDT and PCR	SSU rRNA	137 (37 mixed infected with other Plasmodium spp.) (275)	A microtyping kit	Duffy negative: 44/914 Duffy positive: 86/964
11	Kepple et al. (2021)	Ethiopia, Sudan	Case control study	NS	NS	305 and 107 P. vivax samples from Duffy-positive and Duffy-negative individuals	PCR	SSU rRNA	412	NS	Duffy negative: 16/107 Duffy positive: 42/305
12	Lo et al. (2015)	Ethiopia	Cross-sectional study	0–5 (72), 6–18 (128), > 18 (190)	NS	390 and 416 community and clinical samples	PCR	SSU rRNA	23 (73)	Sequencing	Duffy negative: 2/139 Duffy positive: 21/251
13	Lo et al. (2021)	Ethiopia, Botswana, Sudan	Cross-sectional study	NS	NS	1215 febrile patients	Microscopy, PCR	SSU rRNA	332	Sequencing	Duffy negative: 49/332
14	Ménard et al. (2010)	Madagascar (2007)	Cross-sectional study	3–13 years	NS	661 asymptomatic school children	Microscopy, RDT and PCR	SSU rRNA	128 (263)	A micro typing kit	Duffy negative: 42/476 Duffy positive: 86/185
15	Mendes et al. (2011)	Angola (2006–2007) and Equatorial Guinea (2005)	Cross-sectional study	NS	NS	995 individuals (898 from Angola and 97 from Equatorial Guinea)	PCR	SSU rRNA	15 (10 mixed infected with other Plasmodium spp.) (245)	PCR–RFLP, sequencing	Duffy negative: 15/15
16	Miri-Moghaddam et al. (2014)	Iran (2009–2012)	Case control study	Patients with P. vivax (29.9), patients without P. vivax (29.3)	NS	160 patients with P. vivax and 160 patients without P. vivax infection	Microscopy	–	160	PCR–RFLP, sequencing	Duffy negative: 2/6 Duffy positive: 158/314
17	Mbenda et al. (2014)	Cameroon	Cross-sectional study	1 month–82 years	104, 51.7	485 malaria symptomatic patients	PCR	SSU rRNA	8 (2 mixed infected with P. falciparum) (201)	Sequencing	Duffy negative: 8/8
18	Mbenda et al. (2016)	Cameroon	Cross-sectional study	2.3 months and 86 years	20, 33.3	60 malaria symptomatic patients	PCR	SSU rRNA	10 (43)	Sequencing	Duffy negative: 10/10
19	Niang et al. (2018)	Senegal (2010–2011)	Cross-sectional study	Mean 9 (8–11)	28, 58.3	48 asymptomatic school children (192 samples)	PCR	SSU rRNA	15 samples positive from 5 individuals (74 samples positive)	Sequencing	Duffy negative: 5/5
20	Niangaly et al. (2017)	Mali (2009–2011)	Cohort study	New born to 6 years	NS	300 children	Microscopy, PCR	SSU rRNA	25 (134)	Sequencing	Duffy negative: 25/25
21	Oboh et al. (2018)	Nigeria (2016–2017)	Cross-sectional study	Mean 23 (1–85)	197, 45.2	436 febrile patients (256 samples for PCR)	Microscopy, RDT and PCR	SSU rRNA	5 (4 mixed infected with other Plasmodium spp. (256)	Sequencing	Duffy negative: 5/5
22	Oboh et al. (2020)	Nigeria (2016–2017)	Cross-sectional study	25 (2–85), 26 (2–86)	109, 45	242 individuals	Microscopy, RDT and PCR	SSU rRNA	4 (1 mixed infected with P. falciparum) (145)	Sequencing	Duffy negative: 4/4
23	Poirier et al., 2016	Benin (2009–2010)	Cross-sectional study	NS	NS	1,234 Beninese blood donors (86 for PCR)	Microscopy, RDT and PCR	SSU rRNA	13 (86)	Sequencing	Duffy negative: 13/13
24	Russo et al. (2017)	Cameroon	Cross-sectional study	Median 24 (4–40)	191, 39.5	484 febrile outpatients	PCR	SSU rRNA	27 (70)	Sequencing	Duffy negative: 70/224 Duffy positive: 0/4
25	Ryan et al. (2006)	Kenya (1999–2000)	Case–control study	NS	NS	8 P. vivax positive cases	Microscopy, PCR	SSU rRNA	9 (9 mixed infected with other Plasmodium spp.)	flow cytometry for Fy6 and Fy3 epitopes	Duffy negative: 9/9
26	Woldearegai et al. (2013)	Ethiopia (2009)	Cross-sectional study	NS	NS	1,931 febrile patients	Microscopy, PCR	SSU rRNA	111 (205)	Sequencing	Duffy negative: 3/41 Duffy positive: 108/164
27	Wurtz et al. (2011)	Mauritania (2007–2009)	Cross-sectional study	NS	NS	439 febrile outpatients (277 for Duffy blood group)	PCR	Aquaglyceroporin, P. vivax enoylacyl carrier protein reductase, P. ovale P25 ookinete surface protein	110	Sequencing	Duffy negative: 1/52 Duffy positive: 109/206

NS Not specified.

Figure 2.

Distribution of included studies on P. vivax infection among Duffy-negative individuals. Map was sourced and modified from https://mapchart.net/world.html by authors. Authors were allowed to use, edit and modify any map created with mapchart.net for publication freely by adding the reference to mapchart.net in publication.

Study quality

Study quality was assessed using the JBI Critical Appraisal Tool (Table S2). Eighteen studies^{18,19,21,23,25–29,32,34–39,41,42} were high-quality, while nine^{17,20,22,24,30,31,33,40,43} were of moderate quality.

The prevalence of P. vivax infection among Duffy-negative individuals

Twenty-seven studies^17–43 reported P. vivax infection among Duffy-negative individuals. Of these, 11^{17,22,30,32–38,40} reported that all P. vivax infection cases were Duffy-negative (100%). These studies were conducted in West Africa (Nigeria^36,37, Senegal³⁴, Mali³⁵, Benin³⁸), Mid Africa (Cameroon^22,32,33, Angola and Equatorial Guinea³⁰), North Africa (Sudan¹⁷), and East Africa (Kenya⁴⁰).

Fourteen studies^{18–21,23–25,27–29,39,41–43}, conducted in 16 areas and reporting P. vivax infection prevalence among Duffy-negative individuals, were included in the pooled prevalence meta-analysis. These results showed that the pooled prevalence was 25% (95% CI − 3%–53%, I² = 99.96%, Fig. 3). Due to high heterogeneity in studies reporting this prevalence, a meta-regression analysis of the continent as a covariate was performed to test if it (the continent) was a source of heterogeneity. These results showed that the continent covariate was indeed a source of heterogeneity in the pooled prevalence (p = 0.013), therefore, further subgroup continent analyses were performed.

Figure 3.

Forrest plot demonstrated the pooled prevalence of P. vivax infection among Duffy negative individuals. ES prevalence estimate, CI confidence interval.

These results indicated that the highest prevalence of P. vivax infection among Duffy-negative individuals was identified in a Southern African study (Botswana, 86%, 95% CI 65%–95%)²⁷, followed by Mid Africa (61%, 95% CI 6%–115%, I² = 99.59%, three studies ^19,23,39), and North Africa (13%, 95% CI 9%–18%, I² = 100%, two studies^18,27). However, a low prevalence was reported in an East African study [6%, 95% CI 3%–9%, I² = 83.96%, five studies (six study areas)^{25,27,29,41,43}], followed by West Africa (4%, 95% CI 1%–8%, I² = 96.79%, two studies^24,42). But the lowest prevalence was reported in a South American study (Brazil, 1%, 95% CI 0%–2%, I² = 99.8%, two studies^20,21) (Fig. 4).

Figure 4.

Forrest plot demonstrated the pooled prevalence of P. vivax infection among Duffy negative individuals stratified by continents. ES prevalence estimate, CI confidence interval.

The odds of P. vivax infection among Duffy-negative individuals

The odds of P. vivax infection among Duffy-negative individuals when compared with Duffy-positive individuals were estimated using data from 11 studies^{12,18,20,23,25,31,39,41,44–46}. Results of individual study showed that Duffy-negativity was a protective factor for P. vivax infection in six studies^{17,25,41,44–46}. These studies were conducted in Sudan¹⁸, Madagascar^25,45, Ethiopia^41,44, and Mauritania⁴⁶. Only one study conducted outside Africa (Brazil) demonstrated a higher risk of P. vivax infection among Duffy-negative individuals²⁰. No differences in infection risk were identified in four studies from Cameroon^23,39, Ethiopia and Sudan¹², and Iran³¹. Overall, our pooled analysis of 11 studies demonstrated a decreased odds of P. vivax infection among Duffy-negative individuals (p = 0.009, pooled OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.26–0.82, I² = 80.8%, 11 studies, Fig. 5).

Figure 5.

Forrest plot demonstrated the odd of P. vivax infection among Duffy negative individuals. OR odds ratio, CI confidence interval.

Due to a high degree of heterogeneity in some studies, a meta-regression analysis of country, continent, and study design as covariates, was performed to test if covariates were heterogeneity sources of the pooled OR; continent was identified as a heterogeneity source (p = 0.027), whereas, country and study design were not heterogeneity sources of the pooled OR (p = 0.06 and p = 0.188, respectively).

Subgroup continent analysis showed that the decreased odds of P. vivax infection among Duffy-negative individuals were identified in studies in North Africa (OR 0.50, 95% CI 0.32–0.80)¹⁸, East Africa (pooled OR 0.24, 95% CI 0.11–0.52, four studies^25,28,29,41), and West Africa (OR 0.40, 95% CI 0–0.27)⁴². Also, the increased odds of P. vivax infection among Duffy-negative individuals were identified in a South American study (OR 6.36, 95% CI 1.23–32.88)²⁰. Other studies from Mid Africa^23,39, North and East Africa²⁶, and Asia³¹ showed no differences in the odds of infection between Duffy-negative and Duffy-positive individuals (Fig. 6).

Figure 6.

Forrest plot demonstrated the odd of P. vivax infection among Duffy negative individuals stratified by continents. OR odds ratio, CI confidence interval l.

Sensitivity analysis

The sensitivity analysis showed that the pooled prevalence was 45% (95% CI 44%–45%, 14 studies in 16 areas, Supplementary Fig. 1). The decreased odds of infection between Duffy-negative individuals when compared with Duffy-positive individuals was p = 0.009, OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.26–0.82, 11 studies (Supplementary Fig. 2).

Publication bias

A funnel plot between ES (OR) and standard error of the logES of 11 studies showed a symmetrical funnel plot (Fig. 7). Egger’s test results showed no small study effects (p = 0.188). Contour-enhanced funnel plot analyses were performed to identify if funnel plot asymmetry was due to publication bias or other causes. These results showed that the ES’s were distributed in both significant and non-significant areas, thereby suggesting funnel plot asymmetry was due to other causes (e.g., heterogeneity in the OR between studies) (Fig. 8).

Figure 7.

The funnel plot between odds ratio (OR) and standard error (se) of the logOR of the 11 studies demonstrated that the funnel plot was asymmetry. OR odds ratio, se standard error.

Figure 8.

Contour-enhanced funnel plot demonstrated that the effect estimates were distributed in both significance and non-significance areas indicating that the funnel plot asymmetry was due to other causes.

Discussion

Duffy-negative individuals are typically resistant to P. vivax infection; however, a recent study showed that the Duffy-negative antigen was no longer a barrier to such infections³⁰. In our review, we collated 27 studies showing P. vivax infection among Duffy-negative individuals in Africa, including Cameroon, Ethiopia, Sudan, Botswana, Nigeria, Madagascar, Angola, Benin, Kenya, Mali, Mauritania, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Senegal. Moreover, three studies^20,21,31 reported infections among Duffy-negative individuals in South America (Brazil)^20,21 and Asia (Iran)³¹.

Our qualitative analyses showed that several studies^{17,22,30,32–38,40} reported that 100% P. vivax infection occurred in Duffy-negative individuals. In addition, our quantitative analyses (meta-analyses) showed that the pooled prevalence of infection among Duffy-negative individuals was 25%, with a high heterogeneity across studies. These finding confirmed data from previous studies and supported the hypothesis that Duffy-negativity was no longer protective against P. vivax infection. Nevertheless, a high prevalence of infection among Duffy-negative individuals was observed in West Africa^34–38), Mid Africa^{19,22,23,30,32,33,39}), North Africa^17,18,27, East Africa⁴⁰, and Southern Africa²⁷. Our meta-analysis results showed that Duffy-negativity was protective against P. vivax infection in individuals from East Africa^25,28,29,41, although several reports have documented about the infection of P. vivax in Duffy- negative individuals. Our forest plot demonstrated the increased odds of P. vivax infection among Duffy-negative individuals in studies outside Africa, such as South America. This was likely caused by a low sample size, as the authors suggested P. vivax infections were not significantly different between Duffy-positive and Duffy-negative individuals²⁰.

Several mechanisms have been postulated for P. vivax infections among Duffy-negative individuals. (1) Duffy-positive individuals may act as P. vivax reservoirs and facilitate parasite infection of Duffy-negative hepatocytes, thereby selecting new P. vivax strains which invade Duffy-negative erythrocytes via Duffy-independent mechanisms⁴⁵. (2) P. vivax evolution for host selection may have occurred in Africa due to ideal temperatures and highly competent transmission vectors¹⁷. (3) In Africa, increased vector capacity to transmit other P. vivax malaria parasites such as Anopheles gambiae and An. Arabiensis has been observed^40,47. Demographic factors and a high population density of young age groups may have contributed to a higher entomological inoculation rate, and contributed to P. vivax infection in Duffy-negative individuals, similar to P. falciparum infection^12,48. (4) Parasite adaptation may have occurred for P. knowlesi infection rates, potentially facilitating the zoonotic transmission of specific P. vivax strains in Duffy-negative individuals, resulting from long exposure to P. vivax infections in African populations. In studies on simian malaria parasites requiring the Duffy protein antigen for erythrocyte invasion, P. knowlesi invaded Duffy-negative erythrocytes, suggesting a Duffy-independent P. knowlesi infection mechanism⁴⁹. (5) P. vivax can hide in the bone marrow of Duffy-negative hosts and persist as low parasitemic, asymptomatic infections⁵⁰. (6) Difference in latitude in some areas could affect P. vivax transmission, e.g., higher altitudes in Cameroon¹¹, therefore, P. vivax could infect populations in these areas rather than P. falciparum, suggesting P. vivax abilities to infect populations in higher altitudes⁵¹. (7) P. vivax may use several receptor-ligand interactions to tightly bind erythrocytes in the absence of a Duffy receptor, e.g., the glycophosphatidylinositol-anchored micronemal antigen or tryptophan-rich antigens⁵².

Our study had some limitations. Firstly, we identified a limited number of studies reporting P. vivax infection among Duffy-negative individuals. Secondly, we identified high heterogeneity among studies. Thirdly, we observed funnel plot asymmetry which was likely caused by heterogeneity of the ES among studies. Although subgroup analyses were performed, the heterogeneity persisted. Therefore, our results must be interpreted with caution.

Conclusions

Our systematic review and meta-analysis confirmed that P. vivax infected Duffy-negative individuals over a wide prevalence range from 0 to 100% depending on different geographical areas. Future investigations are required to determine if Duffy-negativity is still protective for P. vivax infection.

Author contributions

P.W. and M.K. carried out the study design, study selection, data extraction, and statistical analysis and drafted the manuscript. F.R.M., K.U.K. and G.D.M. participated in the study selection and data extraction and drafted the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Funding

This research was partially supported by the New Strategic Research (P2P) project fiscal year 2022, Walailak University, Thailand. The funders had on role in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of the data.

Data availability

All data related to this study are available in this manuscript.

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-022-07711-5.