Poster Presentation Indian Ocean Rim Laboratory Haematology Congress 2019

Prevalence Hb E in Laos and Khmers ethnic groups residing in the lower northeastern Thailand (#65)

Roongnalin Bunthupanich 1 , Rossarin Karnpean 2 , Anuwat Pinyachat 2 , Nawinda Jiambunsri 2 , Naruwat Pakdee 3
  1. Graduate student of Biomedical Sciences Program, College of Medicine and Public Health, Ubon Ratchathani University, Warinchamrab, Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand
  2. College of Medicine and Public Health, Ubon Ratchathani University, Warinchamrab, Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand
  3. Department of Thai Traditional Medicine, Faculty of Natural Resources, Rajamangala University of Technology Isan, Sakon Nakhon Campus, Phang Khon, Sakon Nakhon, Thailand

Thalassemia and hemoglobinopathies are very high prevalence in Thailand. The studies of thalassemia and hemoglobinopathies in different region of northeastern (NE) Thailand indicated unequal due to a diversity of ethnic origin in the region and underlined a requirement for micromapping of thalassemia and hemoglobinopathies among the different ethnic populations. Although problem of thalassemia is evident in this area, surveys of prevalence in ethnic populations have never been substantially conducted. Thus, this studies aimed to survey the prevalence of Hb E in Laos and Khmers ethnic groups. The criteria for volunteers enrolled in this study was as follow; healthy, over 18 years of age, unrelated, and recognized as a member of ethnic population for at least three generations with no admixture from other populations. A total 162 samples (63 male and 99 female) volunteers of Laos were obtained from the six villages residing nearby Sirindhorn Dam, Sirindhorn District, Ubon Ratchatani Province. For Khmers ethnic groups, 77 samples (28 male and 49 female) from one villages in Bak Dong, Khun Han District, Si Sa Ket Province were conducted. To identify Hb E, complete blood count (CBC) was performed using XE-2100 Hematology Analyser (Sysmex, Kobe, Japan) and Hb analysis was done by automated capillary electrophoresis (Minicap, Sebia, France). The results demonstrated that the prevalence of Hb E in Laos and Khmers were 41.98 (95% CI; 34.29-49.66) and 64.95 (95% CI; 54.03-75.84), respectively. For Laos, Hb E trait and homozygous Hb E were observed as 34.57 and 7.41%, respectively. For Khmers, Hb E trait and homozygous Hb E were observed as 49.35 and 15.58%, respectively. The results in this study revealed that Khmers had higher prevalence of Hb E than Laos ethnic groups. This information would serve as a more practical basis for developing genetic counseling for the long-term effort to reduce the burden of severe thalassemia disease in the region. Additionally, a wealth of information here would be further accumulated the polymorphism of thalassemia in ethnic groups, allowing a better understanding of their origins and affinities.