Distribution Of ABO And Rhesus D Blood Antigens In Morocco

Abstract

To determine phenotypic and allelic frequencies of ABO Rhesus D blood groups in a Moroccans blood population, a sample 219 287 blood donors was collected from 15 different regions across the country. The overall ABO antigens frequency was 32.86%, 15.80%, 4.53% and 46.80% for blood groups A, B, AB and O, respectively. In addition, the Rhesus D positive frequency was 91.00%. The allelic frequencies found were 0.2089, 0.1078 and 0.6838 for A, B and O alleles, respectively, and 0.2999 for d allele. The regional distribution of the ABO blood antigens showed slight differences between the studied regions. However, statistical analysis of the regional allelic distribution of the D antigen was found highly significant (P> 0.001). A close analysis using a z- score test showed that Ouarzazate from the South East of the country clears apart from all other regions. These findings are concordant with the geographical and historical data of Morocco. Finally, the found distribution would be of a great help in mapping the country’s distribution of the ABO Rhesus D blood groups and blood donors’ population.