Abstract
The presence of a geographical pattern in the distribution of the sickle cell gene (S gene) and its association with malaria was well documented. To study the distribution of S gene among various ethnic and linguistic groups in the Sudan, we analysed a sample of 189 families reporting to the sickle cell disease clinic June 1996 and March 2000 against their ethnic and linguistic affiliations and their geographic origin. The results indicated that the S gene is predominantly distributed among Afroasiatic speaking groups including nomadic groups of Arab and non Arab descent who migrated to the Sudan in various historical epochs (>70%). The proportion of patients reporting from other ethnic groups, including Nilo-Saharan speaking groups who populated the country in previous times is between 20-30% and is disproportionate to their population size and their wider geographic range in thr Sudan These results highlight the strong link of the middle Nile Valley with west Africa through the open plateu of the Sahel and the nomadic cattle herders and probably the relatively new age of the sickle cell trait.