स्वास्थ्य एवं चिकित्सा सूचना विज्ञान जर्नल

Sickle Cell Gene (HbS) Scenario in Tribal India

Abstract

BP Urade *

In India, a very high prevalence of sickle cell trait (SCT) has been reported from central, southern and western states, the frequency ranges from 0 to 48% with sporadic cases in eastern and north-western states. Of the total 6675 screened individuals for haemoglobin S (HbS) from Maharashtra, Kerala and Orissa, 748 samples of eight tribal populations were considered for present study. A very high frequency of 20.3% has been observed for HbS among the Pardhan followed by the Gond (15.7%) and the Gowari (7.3%). The Banjara and the Halba show a similar pattern of HbS distribution being 5.9% and 5.04% respectively. The gene is found to be completely absent among the Mana of the same region. The Khutia khond of Orissa state show a lowest frequency for HbS gene (0.9%) of all the studied tribal groups. The Mullukuruman exhibits moderate frequency of 10.8% as compared to other tribal groups in southern India. The tribal people of central and southern had a geographical unicentric origin and had unicentric origin of the mutated gene when these tribal populations were in direct contact and underwent panmixia or gene flow. But now they dispersed and live distantly isolating themselves and maintain strict endogamy leading to high frequency for HbS gene