Contribution of ABO-Rhesus/Electrophoresis of hemoglobin methods and Short Tandem Repeats analysis in the determination of paternity in Burkina Faso, West Africa

Abstract Background: the establishment of filiation by the current ABO, HLA, MNS, Kells and serum tests, pose a real reliability problem. It is then necessary to combine these methods with or to use high-performance methods such as microsatellite genetic analysis or short tandem repeats. This study aimed to compare the short tandem repeat technique with ABO/Rhesus system in combination with electrophoresis of hemoglobin. Methods: Fourteen (14) contested paternity trios were investigated. Blood samples were collected to determine blood groups using the Beth-Vincent method and the type of hemoglobin by electrophoresis. Blood spots on FTA paper were used for the analysis of 16 STR loci (D8S1179, D21S11, D7S820, CSF1PO, D3S1358, TH01, D13S317, D16S539, D2S1338, D19S433, vWA, TPOX, D18S51, D5S818, FGA, Amel) by capillary electrophoresis on the ABI 31310 Genetic Analyzer. The generated sequences were analyzed with GeneMapper® software version 3.2.1. The data were analyzed to determine the paternity index and the probability of paternity. Results: Of the fourteen (14) trios studied, ten (10) cases were probable inclusion, three (03) cases were exclusion and one (01) case was an undetermined paternity outcome with the ABO-Rhesus/ electrophoresis of hemoglobin system. While the analysis of genetic polymorphisms in DNA gave five (05) inclusions versus nine (09) exclusions of paternity. Of the 10 probable inclusion cases given by the ABO-Rhesus/Electrophoresis of hemoglobin system, only 05 cases (50%) were confirmed for inclusion by Short tandem repeat analysis. Conclusion: The analysis of short tandem repeat with sixteen genetic markers is more reliable in determining paternity than ABO-Rhesus/hemoglobin electrophoresis techniques.