Rh and Duffy gene frequencies in Algeria.

ABSTRACT

The red blood cell phenotyping of Rh and Duffy systems in 4300 Algerian was carried out by using micro-methods. The gene frequencies were estimated for each of the 26 "wilayas" (regions) of the country. Whereas the frequency of the cDe haplotype increases from north to south, the frequency of cde seems to decrease in the same direction and that of CDe increases from west to south to east. The frequencies of FY*b follow an increasing southwest northeast gradient. The frequencies of FY* follow a decreasing gradient with the same pattern. cDe, cDE and cde frequencies are of Black African type, while CDe is of Europeans type. The Duffy alleles show frequencies which are intermediate between typical Negroid and Caucasoid frequencies.