Project Abstract

            ABSTRACT 

In the last five decades, genetic structure of populations are being studied in via ABO blood groups system, mtDNA and Y chromosome makers to understand history of human migration and relatedness of ethnic groups settled in close proximity. In the present study, the distribution of ABO and Rh blood groups and associated traits among various ethnic groups in Kogi State was analysed to determine the genetic composition of various ethnic groups.  Participants for the study included 1,863 students of the college (1,427 females and 436 males) aged 16-40 years. The study is both retrospective and prospective. Records of admitted students into the college spanning 11 years (2002–2013) consecutively were retrospectively and prospectively collected from the various record units of the College. ABO, Rh blood group and Hb-electrophoresis tests were carried out on a white porcelain tile using blood grouping antisera and Hb-electrophoresis machine. From the 1,863 records reviewed for the ABO blood group, the phenotypic frequencies were highest for ABO*O (965, 51.80%) followed by ABO*B (404, 21.70%). The frequencies for ABO*A was observed as (379, 20.30%), whereas the frequency of ABO*AB group was observed to be lowest (115, 9.00%). It was observed that ABO*O > ABO*B > ABO*A > ABO*AB for each sex. The same pattern was observed for all the ethnic groups with a slight deviation in Bassa and Nupe where group A>B. The distribution of Rh antigen shows that Rh D positive was the highest with 1,755 (94.20%) while Rh D Negative was the lowest with 108 (5.8%). The genotypic frequency for haemoglobin was discovered to be highest for AA 1,095(58.50%) followed by AS 768 (41.00%) SS was observed to be comparatively very low 9(0.50%). The present study reveals association of ABO with malaria, hepatitis and level of academic performance of the subjects. There is also a weak association with birth order, BMI, height and weight.

Project Overview

1.0 GENERAL INTRODUCTION

 1.1 Background of Study 

Blood is defined as ―the red viscous fluid that circulates round the body supplying O2 and nutritive substances absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract to the tissues, returns CO2 to the lungs and other products of metabolism to the kidneys, functions in the regulation of body temperature, and distributes hormones and other agents that regulate cell function‖ (Saladin, 2003; Barrett et al., 2010). Blood has always had a special mystique. From time immemorial, people have seen blood flow in the body and with it, the life of individual depends. People thus presumed that blood carried a mysterious ―vital force,‖ and Roman gladiators drank it to fortify themselves for battle. From ancient Egypt to nineteenth-century America, physicians drained ―bad blood‖ from their patients to treat everything from gout to headaches, from menstrual cramps to mental illness (Saladin, 2003). ―Blood group‖ can be defined as inherited allogeneic variation detected on the surface of blood cells (Daniels, 2002). The term applies to a defined system of red blood cell antigens (blood group substances) controlled by a genetic locus having a variable number of alleles e.g. A, B, and O in the ABO system (Murray et al., 2003; Daniels, 2002). The blood group is determined by the genetic make-up of the alleles of a system (Bakare et al., 2006; Bhuvnesh et al., 2011).
There are at least other 29 known blood groups with a total of more than 240 antigens, including the MN, Duffy, Kell, Kidd, and Lewis groups (Storry and Olsson, 2004). These rarely cause transfusion reactions. The Kell, Kidd, and Duffy groups occasionally cause Haemolytic Disease of the Newborn (Iyiola et al., 2011).The most famous blood groups are those of ABO and Rhesus (Rh) series (Khan et al., 2009). The ABO blood group are the first red cell antigens while the Rhesus blood group are the most immunogenic red cell antigens discovered (Chima et al., 2012). 

Both are routinely typed for in any blood bank or blood transfusion service (Bakare et al., 2006; Enosolease and Bazuaye, 2008). Blood-group antigens may be carbohydrate structures on red cell surface glycoproteins or glycolipids (Storry and Olsson, 2004; Akinnuga, 2011), or they may be determined primarily by the amino acid sequence of polypeptides or glycoproteins (Suzuki, 2005). At least 23 red cell surface proteins express blood-group polymorphism (Daniels, 2002; Yamamoto et al., 2012).
The ABO blood group system of carbohydrate antigen expression on the surface of human red blood cells (RBCs) was first described by Karl Landsteiner in 1900 and represented an important step towards development of safer blood transfusions (Owen, 2000; Loscertales et. al., 2007; Iyiola et al., 2011; Chandra and Gupta, 2012). Alfred von Decastello and Adriano Sturli discovered the 4th type, AB, in 1902 (Eweidah et al., 2011) while Landsteiner and Weiner in 1940 discovered the Rhesus (Rh) blood group (Iyiola et al., 2011).

1.2 Statement of Problem 

In the last five decades, numerous studies have been carried out on the genetic composition of various population groups around the world including some parts of Nigeria. However, genetic studies among some ethnic groups  are non-existent. Hence, the need for the present study to determine the frequencies of ABO and Rhesus blood groups among some ethnic groups. The present study attempts to provide initial data of genetic composition of some ethnic groups , using ABO blood group system. 

1.3 Justification/Significance of Study
The main purpose of the study is to establish the distribution of ABO and Rh blood groups among some various ethnic groups  with a view to providing useful data for the government and health care providers in tackling health-related problems. The present study will help to correlate the ethno-historical, mythological and other related records in association with genetic data that can be useful in demonstrating the origin of a population and the genetic relationship between populations. The knowledge of the frequencies of ABO and Rh blood groups at local and regional levels are helpful in the effective management of blood banks and in blood transfusion services. Data from this study will be of immense use to the geneticists, biologists, blood transfusion services, policy makers and clinicians. To create awareness for the Primary Health Care (PHC) Centres on the frequency distribution pattern of ABO and Rhesus (RHD) blood groups and associated traits in people. The findings will add to the existing literature on gene frequencies of ABO and Rh blood groups in the Nigerian populations. 

1.4 Aims and Objectives of the Study 

1.4.1 The aim of the study This study aims to investigate the genetic structure and variation of some certain population in Nigeria, with respect to ABO blood group and Rhesus factor. 

1.4.2 Objectives of the study 

The objectives of the study are to:
i. describe the genetic structure some indigenes with respect to ABO and Rh blood groups.
ii. describe the pattern of distribution of ABO and Rh blood groups among some ethnic groups.
iii. investigate any association between blood groups and some disease and physiological traits.
iv. provide baseline data on ABO and Rh blood groups for scientists, health professionals, health-care providers and policy makers.