Distribution of hereditary blood antigens among Indians in Middle America. VII. In Costa Rica

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
A total of 208 blood samples were procured from Indians in Costa Rica. Cells from clotted specimens were tested for the blood group antigens A, B, M, N, S, s, Mia, Vw, C, Cw, D, E, c, e, V (ces), Lua, Lub, K, k, Lea, Leb, Fya, Jka, Dia, Wra, Jsa, and Bea. Phenotypes and corresponding gene frequencies define by these antigens are presented for the Boruca, Bribri, Cabecar, and Terraba tribes.The Costa Rican Indians, excepting the Boruca, are 100% Group O. The presence of one Group A and two Group B persons among 56 Boruca is suggestive of racial admixture among them.The frequency for the M gene is especially high in the Cabecar which population also shows a complete absence of homozygous NN.The incidence of P1 antigen is unusually high in the Boruca, Cabecar and Terraba (81.07%, 98.39%, and 95.00%, respectively), but in the Bribri the incidence is only moderately high (84.00%).Typical of other Indian populations in Middle America, the Costa Rican tribes show high frequencies for cDE (R2) chromosom; whereas cDe (R0) and/or cde (r) chromosome frequencies are low or absent. No Diego (Dia) antigen was present in the blood samples from the Bribri, Cabecar and Terraba, but it was found in eight of 56 samples from the Boruca.The Mia, Vw, K, Lua, Lea, Wra, and Bea antigens were all absent as were the predominantly negro antigens Jsa and V in the Costa Rican Indian blood samples.