Prevalence of Hemoglobin E among Lao Theung Ethnic Group in the Lao People's Democratic Republic

Abstract

Hemoglobin E ( Hb E) is the most common abnormal hemoglobin detected in the Southeast Asian population. Individuals who carried the Hb E present asymptomatically or minimally microcytic anemia. Recently, the prevalence data of Hb E in Lao ethnic group is limited. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of Hb E in Lao Theung which is the second-largest ethnic group in the Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR). A total of 252 blood samples were collected from adult unrelated Lao Theung subjects populated in the Vientiane province. The Hb E mutation was detected by using allele-specific PCR. The allele frequency of Hb E was identified by DNA sequencing. The prevalence of Hb E in this cohort was 17.86% (45/252), which more commonly found in female (20.11%, 35/174) than male (12.82%, 10/ 78). Two of the 45 subjects are homozygous Hb E and the remaining 43 subjects are heterozygous Hb E. The distribution of Hb E revealed in this cohort is lower than the previous data surveyed in the Lao Theung staying at the Southern part of the Lao PDR and the Lao Loum population, as well as the population in the Northeastern region of Thailand. This data indicated that the distribution of Hb E is ethnic and geographical specific and may related to Malaria endemic area.