ABH secretor status in saliva of Calabar Municipality residents

Abstract

One hundred and seventy six healthy residents of Calabar Municipality were investigated for the presence of salivary ABH substances. Saliva and blood samples collected were analysed by haemagglutination inhibition and standard tube ABO grouping methods respectively. 86.90% and 13.10% of the subjects were ABH secretors and non-secretors respectively. A significant correlation was established between the secretor status frequency and ABO blood group phenotypes (P less than 0.001). No correlation was established with age or sex. O blood group subjects had higher titre of H-substances than A and B subjects while AB subjects had the lowest. In AB subjects, the A titre was usually higher than that of B substances. The gene frequencies for Se and se were 0.6390 and 0.3610 respectively while the phenotype prevalence rates for Se/se, Se se and se se were 40.83%, 46.15% and 13.10% respectively. It is concluded that the prevalence rate of non-secretors which has been associated with the occurrence of duodenal ulcer is low in the locality.