Sickle cell hemoglobin, beta-thalassemia and G6PD deficiency in tribes of Maharashtra, India.

The prevalence of sickle cell hemoglobin (HbS), beta-thalassemia trait and G6PD deficiency are reported in some important Gond related endogamous tribes in Maharashtra, India. The HbS gene frequency varies from 0.0530 to 0.1805, the beta-thal gene from 0 to 0.0283 and Gd- gene from 0.0189 to 0.1120. The Pardhan tribe has been identified as a high risk group for sickle cell diseases. Statistically significant differences are observed between tribes.