title: RHD alleles in the Tunisian population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A comprehensive survey of RHD alleles in Tunisia population was lacking. The aim of this study was to use a multiplex RHD typing assay for simultaneous detection of partial D especially with RHD/RHCE deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequence exchange mechanism and some weak D alleles.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six RHD specific primer sets were designed to amplify RHD exons 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 9. DNA from 2000 blood donors (1777 D+ and 223 D-) from several regions was selected for RHD genotyping using a PCR multiplex assay. Further molecular investigations were done to characterize the RHD variants that were identified by the PCR multiplex assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the 1777 D+ samples, only 10 individuals showed the absence of amplification of exons 4 and 5 that were subsequently identified by PCR-SSP as weak D type 4 variants. No hybrid allele was detected. In the 223 D-, RHD amplification of some exons was observed only in 5 samples: 4 individuals expressed only RHD exon 9, and one subject lacking exons 4 and 5. These samples were then screened by PCR-SSPs on d(C) ce(s) and weak D type 4, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The weak D type 4 appears to be the most common D variant allele. We have not found any partial D variant. Findings also indicated that RHD gene deletion is the most prevalent cause of the D- phenotype in the Tunisian population.
authors.affiliation: Unité de Recherche « UR06SP05 » Centre Régional de Transfusion Sanguine, Sousse-Tunisia.
authors.forename: Mouna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ouchari
authors.forename: Saloua
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jemni-Yaacoub
authors.forename: Taher
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chakroun
authors.forename: Saida
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abdelkefi
authors.forename: Batoul
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Houissa
authors.forename: Slama
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hmida
keywords: Partial D; RHD genotyping; Tunisia; polymerase chain reaction multiplex; polymerase chain reaction with sequence-specific priming; weak D