title: Heterogeneity of alleles encoding high- and low-prevalence red blood cell antigens across Africa: useful data to facilitate transfusion in African patients.
abstract: Ethnic variations in red blood cell (RBC) antigens can be a source of alloimmunization, especially in migrant populations. To improve transfusion safety in continental Africa and countries with African migrants, we performed RBC genotyping to determine allele frequencies coding for high- and low-prevalence antigens. A total of 481 blood samples were collected in ethnic groups from West, Central and East Africa. Molecular typing was performed using a polymerase chain reaction - reverse sequence specific oligonucleotide method. Results demonstrated no DI*1, DI*3, YT*2, SC*2, LW*7, KN*2 alleles in any sample and the CO*2 allele was rare. The frequency of LU*1 was comparable to that of European-Caucasians (2%) except in Biaka pygmies (8%). The frequency of CROM*-1 was high in Mbuti pygmies (13%). High frequency of KN*7 and KN*6 may reflect selection pressure in the countries investigated. Analysis of Dombrock allele patterns confirmed uneven distribution of the DO*1 and DO*2 alleles with high frequencies of DO*-4 and DO*-5 in all groups. Altogether, findings demonstrated extensive allele-frequency heterogeneity across Africa and suggested that knowledge of patient ethnicity gives information about the high-prevalence antigens that may be lacking. These data are medically useful to support transfusion care of African migrants living in countries where the majority of the population is from a different ethnical background.
authors.affiliation: Etablissement Français du Sang Alpes Méditerranée, Marseille, France; Aix Marseille Université, EFS, ADES UMR, 7268, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Monique
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Silvy
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Beley
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Granier
authors.forename: Alhassane
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ba
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chiaroni
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bailly
mesh_terms: D001789:Blood Group Antigens / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D001803:Blood Transfusion / Q000379:methods*; D003223:Congo; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion / Q000379:methods*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D018740:Genetic Heterogeneity; D015894:Genome, Human; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008302:Mali; D015995:Prevalence
chemical_list: D001789:Blood Group Antigens
keywords: African blood group heterogeneity; African ethnic groups; genotyping; high and low prevalence antigens