Determination of Kell (Kpa and Kpb), ABO and Rh (D) blood group antigens phenotype among ElNuba Sudanese Ethnic Group

Abstract

This prospective and analytical study, aimed to determine the frequency of ABO, Rh (D) and Kell ( Kpa and Kpb ) antigens , and phenotypes, among ElNuba Sudanese tribe. Also aimed at established ABO, Rh (D) and Kell ( Kpa and Kpb ) blood group baseline data for this Sudanese tribe to determine the interaction between this tribe and other Sudanese tribes which will be useful in the blood transfusion, The study was conducted during three months (April to June, 2007), Following informed consent, a total of hundred venous blood samples were collected from unrelated individual into 2.5 ml EDTA containers. All samples were tested for ABO, Rh (D) and Kell (Kpa and Kpb) by using immune-diffusion gel technique for Kell, and, slide method for ABO and Rh (D).The antigens and phenotypes were determined. Similarities between this tribe and other Sudanese tribes and with other countries were calculated using Jaccard's coefficient of similarities. The results obtained showed that, The O group was most common frequently occurred ( 56% ) , followed by group A ( 28%) group B was found ( 14% ) and least common was group AB ( 3%) .The frequency of the Rh ( D) was most common frequently occurred ( 95% ) .the frequency Kpa antigen was least frequently ( 0.00% ),while Kpb was highest common frequently ( 100% ) , The phenotype Kp(a+b-) was not found in this study. There was a marked similarities between the Sudanese tribes that lived in same geographical area this could be due to intermarriage , while the difference that seen in some tribes could be most probably due to the wandering nature of these tribes.