Red Cell Antigen, Serum Protein and Red Cell Enzyme Polymorphisms in Eastern Highlanders of New Guinea

Abstract

A series of 1,187 blood samples from eight population groups in the Eastern Highlands of Papua New Guinea were tested for genetic variation in blood groups, serum proteins and red cell enzyme systems. The populations belonged to the language groups Gahuku-Asarc-Bena Bena, Kamano, Yagaria, Keiagana, Fore, Agarabe, Auyana and Tairora. Polymorphic variation was found in the ABO, MNS, P_1; Rh, Hp, Tf, SEP, 6-PGD, ADA, MDH, and PGM genetic systems. East to West variation was shown in the language groups; the O, S, R₂, and R₀ genes increase in frequency from East to West and the A, R₁, and M genes decrease in the same direction. In the East higher frequencies were found for the D^a antigen, for the PGM²₁ gene and for a PGM second locus variant. The MDH 3 variant was found in all the populations, its highest value being in the Tairora.

Changing Patterns of Plasmodium Blood-Stage Infections in the Wosera Region of Papua New Guinea Monitored by Light Microscopy and High Throughput PCR Diagnosis

“…1 We and others have conducted a number of epidemiologic surveys within PNG to improve our understanding of the relationships between malaria parasite infection and disease, [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16] anti-malarial drug and vaccine effectiveness, [17][18][19] and human genetic polymorphisms. [20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28] These studies have shown that all four Plasmodium species (P. falciparum [PF], P. vivax [PV], P. malariae [PM], and P. ovale [PO]) cause infection in PNG. Although PF is presently the predominant malaria parasite species, PV and PM were observed to be the majority malaria parasite species before the 1980s.…”