The Frequency of ABO and Kidd(Jka,Jkb) blood Group Antigens and Phenotypes among the Major Northern Sudanese Tribes

Abstract

This descriptive cross sectional study was amid to measurer the frequency of ABO and blood group systems antigens and phenotypes. The study performed on the major northern Sudanese tribes (Shawaia, Mahas, Galeen, Halfaween and Danagela) between Jan 2005 to Aug 2007. Consent was taken before blood collation from each individual. One hundred blood sample were obtained from each tribe and 2,5ml was collected in EDTA anti coagulated container from each individual. Samples were analyzed by the saline technique for the detection of ABO system Phenotypes and by Immuno-diffusion (ID) for the detection of Kidd blood group antigens. Concerning ABO system, the study revealed the high frequency of group O (50%, 53%, 55%) followed by A (27%, 23%, 25%), B (20%, 11%, 11%) and AB (3%, 13%, 9%) in Shawaiga, Halfaween and Danagla respectively. While in Mahas and Galeen the high frequent group is O (82%, 56%), followed by B (8%, 21%), A (1%, 16%) and AB (9%, 7%) respectively. Concerning Kidd blood group system, the frequency of Jka is 78%, 94%, 86%, 87%, 93% and of Jkb is 54%, 0%, 27%, 31%, 30% in Shawaiga, Mahas, Galeen, Halfaween and Danagla respectively. The study concluded slight variation between Danagla, Shawaiga, Galeen and Halfaween in the frequency of ABO blood group system phenotype, with considerable variation between the three tribes and Mahas. On the other hands, Shawaiga, Galeen and Halfaween have similar frequencies of Kidd system antigen and phenotypes and were clearly differ from Shawaiga and Mahas. Therefore, the study recommend to screen blood donors and recipient for Kidd antigens and to consider these antigens in cases of hemolytic disease of newborn (HDN) as well as hemolytic transfusion reaction (HTR).