Frequencies of the ABO, Rhesus (D) and Kell (K1 , K2) antigens and phenotypes among Denka Sudanese ethnic group

Abstract

This was prospective and cross – sectional study that aimed to determine the frequency of ABO, Rhesus (D) and Kell (K1, K2) antigens and phenotypes among the Denka Sudanese tribe. Study also aimed to construct a data base regarding to these antigens. This study was conducted during three months (March – June 07) in Khartoum state. Following informed consent, a total of hundred individuals were bled. 2.5 ml of venous blood was collected into EDTA containers. All samples were tested for ABO, Rh (D) antigens by slide technique, whereas the Kell (K1and K2) were tested by modern technique called gel micro-typing. The results were analyzed using statistical package for social science program. Similarities between this tribe and other Sudanese tribes and tribes from other countries were calculated using Jacard's coefficient similarities. Regarding to ABO blood group system our results showed that the O blood group was most common with the frequency of 48% followed by A blood group with the frequency of 23% and B blood group was 20% whereas the AB was the least common with frequency of 9% . Rhesus (D) antigen frequency was found to be most commonly frequent with the frequency of 96%. The Kell-2 frequency was found to be 100%, while Kell -1 was 5%. The conclusion of the study was that frequency of ABO blood group was found to be close to that found in people of African American race and far from that found in the American of the united state and the British populations while the frequency of Rhesus (D) antigen was found to be close to the frequency of American and African Blacks , and far away from that of British population , the frequency of Kell -1 in the Denka population was found to be close to that found in Pakistan and Finns population and it was far away from that found in U.S blacks and Arabian population and kell -2 was found close to Pakistani and English populations .Similarities between some Sudanese tribes could be explained by the same location while the differences may due to there wandering nature .