Background & Objectives : More than one hundred countries face the problem of malaria disease. Studies have indicated that thalassemic individuals are relatively more resistant to malaria. The present research set out to investigate this hypothesis in Iraushahr where these is a high prevalence of moralia. The goal of this study is to compare the prevalence of malaria in thalassemic individuals with non- thalassemic ones in Iranshahr.

  Methods: In this case-control study 100 thalassemic individuals (case) and 100 non-thalassemic case (control) were selected. In addition to serum specimen, their blood sample from their fingertips were also taken to prepare peripheral blood smear. The tests were performed on 200 random samples in July (the peak time of malaria transmission). In this study, both indirect immuno flurecance Assay (IFA) and direct amear technique were used. The data were analyzed in SPSS software using descriptive and analytical statistics including T- test, chi-square and ANOVA.

  Results: In IFA 20 subjects had positive titer while 80 ones had negative titer. Direct microscopic examination indicated that these, 20 cases had malaria parasite, 10 of whom were affected by p. vivax and 10 whit p. falciparum. In the non-thalassemic people (control group), 75 subjects had positive titers and 25 had negative titer. With respect to the direct smear anamination in non-thalassemic subjects, 18 had malaria parasite, of whom 7 had p.falsiparium and 11 had vivax. The results of malaria antibody titer indicated that the history of being affected by malaria the thalassemic subjects was 92% less than the non-thalassemic ones and this difference was statistically, significant (p<0.05) however, no significant relationship was found in terms of the results of direct microscopic examination and Ginsastaining.

  Conclusion : Since thalassemic people are more resistant againt malaria futhure researches are required to investigated the resistance to malaria in other blood disorders.