Plasmodium vivax is a widely distributed malaria parasite in Ethiopia and remains a major challenge for elimination due to its dormant hypnozoite liver stage and efficient transmission dynamics. It primarily invades reticulocytes through interaction between the Duffy-binding protein (PvDBP) and the Duffy Antigen Receptor for Chemokines (DARC). This study assessed Duffy blood group variation among P. vivax patients in southern Ethiopia and showed that while most infections occurred in Duffy-positive individuals, rare cases were also detected in Duffy-negative individuals, suggesting that Duffy negativity may not provide complete protection. These findings have important implications for malaria surveillance, control strategies, and ongoing elimination efforts in Ethiopia and similar endemic settings.

Read the article: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12936-026-05897-x