Studies on Kuru

Abstract

Summary The ABO, MNSs and Rh blood group gene frequencies are presented for 167 kuru victims and 25 kuru-recovered subjects, and comparisons made with other populations in the kuru region and with kuru-free Eastern Highland populations. Comparative results in other blood group systems are also summarized. Some differences were found between kuru-afflicted and kuru-free groups, but these are not considered sufficient to be regarded as evidence of an association between the kuru-predisposing gene and any of the blood factors.