© Kamla-Raj 2003                                                                          Stud. Tribes Tribals, 1(2): 91-94 (2003)

A Correlative Study of HLA, Sickle Cell Gene and G6PD Deficiency with Splenomegaly and Malaria Incidence Among Bhils and Pawra Tribes from Dhadgon, Dhule, Maharastra

U. Shankarkumar

HLA Department, Institute of Immunohaematology (ICMR), 13^th Floor,

K.E.M.Hospital, Parel,Mumbai, 400 012, Maharashtra, India

Fax: 91-22-4138521, Tel: 91-22-4138518 Email:  shankarkumar16@hotmail.com

KEY WORDS Immunity; genetic markers; tribes; West India; environment

ABSTRACT Haldane proposed that the sickle cell gene provides a survival advantage in malarial endemic regions. A high malarial endemicity has also been attributed to a high prevalence of G6PD deficiency in the Middle East and South East Asia. Moreover, the HLA antigens have been postulated to confer a protective immunity among the malaria endemic population. To evaluate a correlation in between these investigations among 146 tribals comprising of Bhils (91) and Pawras (55) living in Dhadgoan, Dhule district of Maharastra where Malaria is endemic. It was interesting to note that HLA A1, A9, B5, B40 and B53 alleles where significantly increased among clinically splenomegaly positive patients with a history of Malaria when compared to normal controls (PF > 40% P < 0.0001). HLA A2, B8, B17 and B40 alleles were significantly increased among the G6PD deficient tribals when compared to non-deficient individuals (PF >30%, P< 0.001). Further, it was observed that B53 was significantly increased among the sickle cell hetrozygotes (PF > 45% P< 0.0001) of Bhils and Pawra tribes. A comparison of sickle cell trait and G6PD deficiency status with other Indian tribal populations reported revealed that in our study a 9% G6PD deficiency and 31 % sickle cell heterozygotes with a 17% Sickle cell disease among the tribal population studied. It will be of great interest if we further characterize the HLA, G6PD and Sickle cell gene by molecular methods to study the influence of various environmental factors like hilly terrain, natural calamities and epidemics in the prevalence of Malaria and its association with these parameters at a molecular level among these tribes.

Home                                            Back