Haemoglobin variants, beta-thalassaemia and G-6-PD types in Liberia

Haemoglobin variants, beta-thalassaemia and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) types were studied in 702 individuals from Buchanan, Liberia. In this population haemoglobins S and C, beta-thalassaemia and G-6-PD deficiency were found together. There was a considerable tribal variation. In the tribes of eastern Liberia the S- and C-genes were uncommon and the beta-thalassaemia gene was rather frequent, while in western Liberia the S- and C-genes were more frequent and beta-thalassaemia uncommon. In the central and northern parts the S- and beta-thalassaemia genes were found together in relatively high frequencies. The rate of malaria infection was found to be lower in individuals with the sickle cell and beta-thalassaemia traits than in individuals with haemoglobin AA, but the difference was not statistically significant. The frequency of the delta-chain gene B2 was 1.4% in the total material and there was no significant tribal variation for this gene. The frequency of G-6-PD deficiency estimated in males was 16%.