Abstract:
This is adescreptive analytical study that aimed to determine the
frequency of Rhesus blood group alleles and phenotypes among Hausa
tribe. The study also aimed to establish Rhesus blood group baseline data &
also aimed to determined ABO blood groups for this tribe . The study used
Rh blood group alleles as markers of ethnic identity to determine a probable
common ancestory. This study was conducted at different parts of Sudan
during the period of three months(Feb to May-2007). Following informed
consent, a total of one hundred venous blood samples were collected from
unrelated individuals of the study tribe. Specimens were collected in 2.5 mls
EDTA containers.The red blood cells were tested for common Rhesus
antigens by the gel particle immune diffusion technique and by the slide
agglutination technique. The gene/allele and phenotype frequencies were
determined. Similarities between this tribe and others were calculated using
Jaccard’s coefficient of similarities. The phenotypic data obtained was
referred to as allele and phenotypes, this is based on reasonable assumptions
that every Rh blood group antigen represents a gene that is always expressed
and has a Mendelian dominant mode of inheritance. The e,c and D genes
were the commonest alleles detected each with frequencies of 94%. C and E
antigenes were the least frequent with 17% and 12 % frequencies
respectively. The cDe (69%) phenotype is commonest among study group
Whereas the CcDe(8%) ,cDE (6%) , cde (6%) and Cde (5%) with
intermediate frequency. The CcDEe (3%),cDEe (2%) and CDEe (1%)are
least common phenotypes .Blood group O was found to be the most frequent
50%. The frequency of blood group B was 26% and for group A was 18%.
Blood group AB was least prevalent 6%. In conclusion marked similarities
between Hausa and other Sudanese tribes could probably point to a common
ancestry in very ancient. Some changes could be seen and explained by their
wandering nature. There is great similarities in the ABO group and the Rh
antigens frequencies between Hausa and American blacks , Yorubas in
Nigeria . The Hausa population probably maintained their original genetic
constitution with minimal genetic change .
