Detection and Identification of Pathogenic Trypanosomes across Niger Republic–Nigeria Border by Polymerase Chain Reaction: A Case Study at Maigatari International Livestock Market, Northern Nigeria

Trans-border trade among African countries has been a major route for transfer of goods and animals for centuries influencing socio-economic dynamics of regions and countries. Animal trading across borders has been implicated in the spread of several diseases and constitute a major risk to public health.The present study is aimed to investigate the role of livestock trade across Niger Republic-Nigeria border on the spread of animal African trypanosomiasis (AAT) using Maigatari International Livestock market in Northern Nigeria as a case study.To achieve this, blood samples were collected from 200 animals comprising 40 each of horses, donkeys, goats, camels and cattle brought for trading. Each sample was analysed for the presence of trypanosome spp by polymerase chain reaction using ITS1 CF and BR generic primers.The results showed an overall prevalence of 60% trypanosomes infection, with 16/40 (40%) for horse, 20/40 (50%) for donkey, 36/40 (90%) for goat, 36/40 (90%) for camel and 12/40 (30%) for cattle, respectively.The ITS1 CF and BR primers gave band sizes of 250 bp, 480 bp and above 580 bp for T. vivax, subgenus trypanozoon and T. congolense, respectively. The most prevalent trypanosome species detected were T. vivax single infection (86.7%), T. vivax/subgenus trypanozoon mixed infection (10%) and T. congolense/subgenus trypanozoon mixed infection (3.3%). These results confirmed the threat to public health pose by animal trade across Niger Republic-Nigeria border and call for strategic measures for the control and management of the spread of animal African trypanosomiasis especially as the disease is zoonotic in nature.