Xenomonitoring of trypanosome infectivity in Tse tse flies from Kagarko Local Government Area, Kaduna State Nigeria

Abstract

Trypanosomiasis is a re-emerging neglected tropical disease, afflicting domestic, wild animals and humans. In this study, the tsetse fly infectivity and species composition of Trypanosoma species were determined in Kagarko Local Government Area, Kaduna State Nigeria using entomological protocol. The tsetse flies were sampled using standard biconical traps and the flies collected were dissected for trypanosome using microscopy as well as expression of tsetse antigen 5 (TAg 5) using molecular tools. Forty seven (47) tsetse flies were collected over a period of four months, of which 13 (34.21%) were infected with Trypanosoma spp. The species of trypanosome identified include T. vivax 7(53.85%), T. congolense 5(38.46%) and T. brucei 1(7.69%), while expression of TAg 5 was observed in four of the examined flies. The presence of the flies with trypanosome of veterinary and medical importance  demonstrate the risk of transmission of trypanosomiasis in the study area.