P1 Blood Group Antigen Dominant among Indigenes of Ogoni Ethnicity in Rivers State of Nigeria

Aim: The study aimed to determine the percentage distribution and frequency of occurrence of P1 blood group antigen among indigenes of Ogoni ethnicity in Rivers State of Nigeria.

Study Design: The study was a cross-sectional study conducted on Ogoni indigenes whose first generational parental origin is Ogoni. It consisted of one hundred and one apparently healthy subjects (fifty-two males and forty-nine females) within the age bracket of 30–60 years; free from transfusion transmissible infections after confirmation by serological testing.

Place and Duration of Study: Ogoniland is located along the Niger Delta Easten edge and to the North-East of Port Harcourt. All subjects were enrolled on the same day and their blood sample collected, transported and stored in cold chain (2 to 8°C) before the analysis which was carried out within 24 hours.

Methodology: The presence of the P1 blood group was identified using Anti-P1 monoclonal reagent, with method described and reagent prepared by Lorne Laboratories Ltd, UK.

Results: The study revealed the percentage distribution of the P1 blood group to be 81.18% in the total population with a frequency occurrence of 82.

Conclusion: The P1 blood group is dominant amongst the Ogonis, though not implicated in haemolytic transfusion reaction and haemolytic disease of the newborn, it can be associated with diseases caused by Escherichia coli. Therefore, it is necessary to put into consideration that indigenes of Ogonis with P1 blood group may likely be prone to Escherichia coli infections as a result of the presence of P1 antigen.