Haemoglobin E Distribution in Four Endogamous Populations of Manipur (India)

Abstract

The present paper is a report on the prevalence of Haemoglobin E (HbE) among four endogamous populations of Manipur (India) namely the Kabui, Koireng, Simte and the Meitei. The average allele frequency of HbβE observed among the Meitei is 0.101. However, the frequency of HbβE ranges from 0.045 to 0.226 among various sections of the Meitei. The frequency of HbβE among the Phayeng Chakpa shows the highest value (0.226) while the Ningthoukhong Meitei shows the lowest (0.045). The frequency of HbβE among the hill Kabui population is 0.035 followed by the Koireng (0.029) and the Simte (0.012). The frequency of HbβE among the various tribal populations of malaria endemic zones of Manipur is below 0.04. It is indicative that the ethnic origin and marriage system may be the responsible factors for variation in the frequencies of HbE gene among the populations of Manipur. In the present study, neither protective advantage of HbβE against malaria nor harmful effect of homozygous (HbEE) genotype could be satisfactorily established.

Keywords

• Haemoglobin E,malaria,endogamous,populations of Manipur

References

1. Brumpt LC, Brumpt V, Coquelet ML, Detraverse PM. (1958) La detection de l’hemoglobine E. Etudes des populations Cambodgiennes. Rev Hemat 13:21-30.