Distribution of ABO and Rh(D) blood groups among four populations in Manipur, North East India

Genetic studies on populations in north-east Indian have been performed less frequently than in the other parts of India, in spite of diversity among these populations. In the present study, an attempt was made to study the distribution of ABO and Rh (D) blood groups among Meitei, Brahmin, Muslim and Kabui tribes of Manipur, India in order to understand the population affinities in relation to each other. This is a preliminary study in which the blood groupings were done after collection from these populations and statistical analyses were made. Blood group A shows the highest frequency among the Brahmin (35.10%) followed by the Meitei (31.58%), whereas blood group O is highest among the Muslims (49.50%) followed by Kabui (40.16%). Allele RH*d was found to be less frequent in all the studied populations, with no occurrence among the Kabui tribe. The Brahmin showed significant deviation from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium with respect to ABO blood grouping. Muslims are separate from the other three populations, forming a cluster and maintaining their own gene pool. The Kabui tribe shows close resemblance with the neighbouring Naga populations in the distribution of ABO alleles. For a better understanding of these populations, a more elaborate and precise study is much needed.