ABO Blood Group System Polymorphism and its Relation to Diseases Affection in Diyala Province

Background Blood groups are genetically determined. In different population exhibits significant differences in the frequency of each blood group. This study aimed to determine the most common blood groups in our population and to study the high incidence of certain disease in some blood group carriers. Objectives We investigated the ABO genotypes and heterogeneity of the O alleles in veterinary college student in Diyala University and also from donors from blood bank in Baquba city, side by side with same survey which had been done in the central hospital of the city for investigate the same alleles frequency in diseased and non-diseased individuals. Results Samples collection took place from January 2011 to April 2011. The highest frequency in normal un-diseased individuals was that of blood group O (67.95 %) followed by blood group A and B (15.38 % and 10.26 % respectively) and the lowest of blood group AB (6.41 %). Among the Rhesus phenotype, the majority (78.21 %) are Rhesus positive. The frequency of coexisting ABO/Rhesus phenotypes were calculated and the highest was that of O+ (56.41 %) followed by A+ (10.26 %) and B+ (6.41 %) and AB+ (5.13 %). The blood groups O-, A-, B- and AB- occurred at lower frequency of 11.54 %, 5.13 %, 3.85 % and 1.28 % respectively. The frequency of the same blood groups in diseased patient that resident in medicine department of the central hospital of the city was that of blood group O (50.70 %) followed by blood group A and B (20.00 % and 18.22 % respectively) and the lowest of blood group AB (11.08 %). Among the Rhesus phenotype, the majority (87.01 %) are Rhesus positive. In the comparison of the same blood group frequency in thalassemia individuals which it was that of blood group O (35.38 %) followed by blood group A (31.60), B (26.42) % and the blood group AB (6.60 %). Among the Rhesus phenotype, the majority (89.62 %) are Rhesus positive. Conclusions Iraqi people -in general- have less blood group type O than Hujazi or Kuati people, and because of this type of blood group have more resistance survival phenomena.