EAS Journal of Biotechnology and Genetics Abbreviated Key Title: EAS J Biotechnol Genet ISSN: 2663-189X (Print) & ISSN: 2663-7286 (Online) Published By East African Scholars Publisher, Kenya Volume-4 | Issue-5 | Sept-Oct-2022 | DOI: 10.36349/easjbg.2022.v04i05.001 *Corresponding Author: Onwuka Kalu Chima 68 Department of Haematology, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria Original Research Article Saliva Abh Secretor Status in Kano, Nigeria Onwuka Kalu Chima 1* , Tijjani Bashir Mohammed 2 , Samaila Adamu Alhaji 2 , Kuliya-Gwarzo Aisha 3 , Aminu Haruna Kwaru 3 1 Department of Haematology, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria 2 Department of Medicine, Bayero University, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria 3 Department of Haematology, Bayero University, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria Article History Received: 09.08.2022 Accepted: 14.09.2022 Published: 18.09.2022 Journal homepage: https://www.easpublisher.com Quick Response Code Abstract: Background: A study to obtain reference data that would be useful in comparative and analytical studies on ABH secretor status in Kano, North Western Nigeria. Method: A total of 256 subjects made up of 129 consecutive blood donors and 127 women attending Antenatal Clinic in AKTH were recruited for the study. Their secretor status was determined using saliva samples. Results: One hundred and eighty (70.31%) of the subjects studied secretors while Non- secretors were 76 (29.69%). Conclusion: There is high rate of non-secretors in Kano metropolis compared to various studies carried out in different parts of the Nigeria though similar to other climes like Dhaka in Bangladesh and Karachi in Pakistan which may be associated with the high incidence of duodenal Ulcer disease in the locality of this study. Keywords: ABH, Secretors, Non-Secretors, Kano Nigeria. Copyright © 2022 The Author(s): This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0) which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium for non-commercial use provided the original author and source are credited. INTRODUCTION The ability to secrete A, B and H antigens in water soluble form is controlled by a dominant gene Se Dacie and Lewis (1994). Soluble secreted antigens are called substances Secretors are individuals that can produce A, B and H substances in their saliva, sweat, tears, semen, serum, duodenum, pancrease, bile, colostrums and other body fluids according to the individual ABO blood group D’Adamo and Kelly (2001). ABH antigens are only detected in secretors D’Adamo and Kelly (2001). The presence of ABH antigens in the makeup of the intestinal secretions has significant effects in bacterial and lectin adherence to the gut microvilli. The secretor gene (FUT 2 at 19q 13.3) codes for the activity of glycosyltransferases needed to assemble aspects of ABO blood group. This is accomplished in concert with the gene for blood group O or H (FUT1). These enzymes are then active in places like goblet, mucous gland cells resulting in the presence of antigen in bodily fluids D’Adamo and Kelly (2001). The H antigen are indirect gene products expressed as fucose containing glycan units resulting in glycoproteins or glycolipids of erythrocyte membrane or mucin glycoproteins in secretions. They served as fucosylated glycan substrates that produce A and B antigens. When alleles of both genes fail to express active enzymes, individuals bearing them in homozygous state lack the substrate for the A or B glycosyltransferases and do not express A and B epitomes D’Adamo and Kelly(2001). A review of ABH secretor prevalence antigen in different population groups has revealed marked variations. Mourant et al., (1974) reported non-secretor prevalence of 10% and 40% for American Indians and Negroes respectively similarly Akhter et al., (2011) reported 40% non-secretor status in Dhaka, Bangladesh and Saboor et al., (2014) reported 34% non- secretor status in Karachi, Pakistan while Jaff M. (2010) reported 24% in Iraq. Gravel et al., reported 33% non- secretor among Bangalees Indians. Odeigah stated that the relative phenotypic frequency may not vary greatly from one part of Nigeria to another. Only traces of blood group substances are present in the secretions of non-secretors even though the antigens are normally expressed on their red cells and other tissues. The non- secretors status is considered a predisposing factor to some disease, Since SeSe, Sese or sese genes are genetically established, an epidemiological study of this nature will comparatively relate the phenotypic frequency of secretors and non-secretors in other places.