Investigation of Wright Blood Group Alleles and Genotypes in Malaria-Endemic Area in Southwestern Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Amr J Halawani,1 Saif Elden B Abdalla,2 Mahmoud M Habibullah,2 Ghalia Shamlan,3 Neil D Avent4 1Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia; 2Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia; 3Department of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11362, Saudi Arabia; 4Consultant Molecular Biologist, Bristol, UKCorrespondence: Amr J Halawani, Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia, Email [email protected]: Inherited blood disorders as well as malaria are prevalent in southwestern Saudi Arabia. Patients with specific hemoglobinopathies may require frequent blood transfusions. Accordingly, alloimmunization may occur if donors and recipients are incompatible. Therefore, examination of various blood group antigens to provide compatible blood units is essential. Two alleles of the Diego (DI) blood group system, DI*02.03 and DI*02.04 encode the Wright antigens; Wra and Wrb, respectively. Anti-Wra may lead to alloimmunization during transfusion and pregnancy. Furthermore, the Wrb antigen may involve in interaction between protein receptors for Plasmodium falciparum. This study aimed to investigate the allele/genotype frequencies of the Wright blood groups in southwestern Saudi blood donors regarding the blood transfusion and assessed the population of Jazan Province for susceptibility of Plasmodium falciparum invasion.Materials and Methods: One-hundred-fifty Saudi blood donors were enrolled to this study. DNA was extracted from the blood samples. Primer pairs were designed to capture a single nucleotide variation that distinguishes the Wright alleles. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was conducted and followed by standard sequencing.Results: Among the 150 genotyped samples, the only observed allele was DI*02.04 (n = 150, 100%). Accordingly, the genotype prevalence of DI*02.04/DI*02.04 was accounted for (n = 150, 100%).Conclusion: This study demonstrated the allele frequencies of DI*02.03 and DI*02.04 of the DI blood group system in Saudi blood donors. The DI*02.04 allele was the only allele that was observed. Furthermore, the prevalence of the genotypes was determined and the only observed genotype was DI*02.04/DI*02.04. Interestingly, this study indicates that the Saudi Arabian population living in Jazan Province may be more susceptible to Plasmodium falciparum invasion. Moreover, adding the Wright alleles for the transfusion screening panel is not recommended.Keywords: wright blood group, blood group genotyping, blood transfusion, malaria, Saudi Arabia

Keywords

• wright blood group
• blood group genotyping
• blood transfusion
• malaria
• saudi arabia