Frequency of ABO, Rhesus (D) And Kell Antigens and Phenotypes in Alshaigia Sudanese tribe

Abstract

This descriptive, prospective and analytical study that aimed to determine the frequency of Kell antigens (K,k ), phenotypes and genotypes, ABO blood group system phenotypes and Rhesus (D) factor. The study was conducted in Alshaigia tribe during the period over three months. Following informed consent, a total of hundred samples were collected in 2.5 ml EDTA container from unrelated individuals of the Alshaigia tribe. From each individual were collected. The red cells were tested for Kell antigens (K, k) by using the particle gel immunodiffusion, for ABO and Rhesus (D) factor by using direct slide method and Du method for the negative results. Similarities between Alshaigia tribe and different populations were calculated using Jaccard,s coefficient of similarities. The k antigen was the commonest with the frequency of (100%), while the K antigen was with low frequency (4%) among the study group. The genotype kk was showed the high frequency (96%), whereas the genotype Kk has low frequency 4% and the genotype KK was not detected. O antigen was the most common with the frequency of 49% followed by A antigen (26%), B antigen (22%), and AB antigen was least frequent (3%) in ABO blood group system . The Rhesus (D) factor was highly frequent with the frequency of (96%) among Alshaigia tribe. There are similarities between alshaigia tribe and other Sudanese tribes such as Alshokria and Mahas could probably point to a common ancestry in very ancient days. Some change could be seen which be explained by wandering nature of some Sudanese tribes. The difference between the study tribe and some other populations such as Germany and Indian may be due to the difference geographical area.