ABSTRACT
Venous blood samples of 368 apparently healthy and unrelated adult individuals (both male and female) belonging to a primitive tribe, Garasiya inhabitating malaria hyperendemic areas of Sirohi district, Rajasthan (India) were investigated by standard and recommended techniques for evidence of erythrocyte genetic disorders; sickle cell haemoglobin, b-thalassaemia syndromes and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) enzyme deficiency (Gd). Sickle cell genes encountered in 23 (6.25%) Garasiya tribals. Of these, 22 (5.97%) showed heterozygous sickle cell gene(Hb-AS or trait) and one (0.27%) homozygous form (Hb-SS or sickle cell disease). b-thalassaemia syndromes were observed in 30(8.15%) subjects; 28(7.60%) b-thalassaemia traits (b-thal.) and 2(0.54%) HbS-thalassaemia (HbS-thal.). Gd was found in 56 (15.21 %) subjects. Except these mutant genes no other erythrocyte abnormal genes were encountered in Garasiya tribe. A high incidence or prevalence of these red cell mutant genes in relation to malaria is discussed in the present communication.