Quantitative study of the ABO system in several groups of African populations

Agglutination percentages of red blood cells from European and from three African populations (Twareg from Mali, Sara from Central African Republic, and Niokholonko from Senegal) in the ABO system have been compared. The results show a greater agglutinability of group O erythrocytes with anti-H sera, for African subjects than for Europeans. No significant difference was noted between African and European B subjects, except for the Niokholonko, whose agglutination percentage was slightly higher with anti-B. The study of group A disclosed a large number of Aint in all African populations studied. The AB African red cells seem to be less agglutinable with anti-A and anti-A1 sera than European ones; A and A1 antigens may be depressed by a strong B antigen.