A comprehensive ethnic-based analysis of alpha thalassaemia allelle frequency in northern Thailand article

• Main Authors: Mattapong Kulaphisit, Jatupol Kampuansai, Kamonlak Leecharoenkiat, Methi Wathikthinnakon, Daoroong Kangwanpong, Thongperm Munkongdee, Saovaros Svasti, Suthat Fucharoen, Duncan R. Smith, Pathrapol Lithanatudom
• Format: Journal
• Published: 2018
• Subjects: Agricultural and Biological Sciences; Arts and Humanities
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?partnerID=HzOxMe3b&scp=85021903308&origin=inward; http://cmuir.cmu.ac.th/jspui/handle/6653943832/47030
• Institution: Chiang Mai University

© 2017 The Author(s). Alpha (α)-thalassaemia is one of the most prevalent hereditary blood disorders, commonly affecting Southeast Asian people, with the highest incidence (30-40%) being seen in northern Thailand. Ho wever, this high incidence was estimated without consideration of the variations between ethnic populations and the geographical location of the populations. To address this issue, a total of 688 samples from 13 different northern Thai ethnic groups (30 villages) categorized into three linguistic groups were genotyped for deletional alpha-thalassaemia (-α 3.7 ,-α 4.2 ,- SEA and- THAI ) and/or non-deletional alpha-thalassaemiaα CS and α PS ) via multiplex gap-PCR and dot-blot hybridization, respectively. Alpha + (-α 3.7 ,-α 4.2 , α CS and α PS ) and alpha°-thalassaemia (- SEA and- THAI ) allele frequencies (with 95% Confidence Interval) were the highest in the Sino-Tibetan group [0.13 (0.08-0.18)] and the Tai-Kadai group [0.03 (0.02-0.05)] , respectively. With regards to ethnicity, the varying allele frequency of α + and α°-thalassaemia amongst a variety of ethnicgroups was observed. The highest α + -thalassaemia allele frequency wasfound in the Paluang [0.21 (0.10-0.37)] while α°-thalassaemia allele frequency was the highest in the Yuan [0.04 (0.01-0.10)] . These detailed results of alpha thalassaemia allele frequency and genetic diversity amongst the northern Thai ethnic groups demonstrate the need for ethnicity based thalassaemia prevention programs.