Detection and Epidemiology of Trypanosome Infection in Livestock at Katsina Abattoir: Implications for Biosecurity and Animal Health in Northern Nigeria

African Animal Trypanosomiasis, a vector-borne parasitic disease caused by Trypanosoma species and transmitted by tsetse flies, severely impacts livestock health and agricultural productivity across sub-Saharan Africa. This study investigates the prevalence and impact of trypanosome infections in livestock slaughtered at Katsina Central Abattoir Katsina State, Nigeria, focusing on species circulating in the region, which is traditionally outside the Tsetse fly belt. Despite the absence of tsetse flies, mechanical transmission by biting insects and cross-border livestock movement from endemic areas pose significant risks. We examined 200 animals, including goats, sheep, cattle, and camels, categorizing 146 as healthy and 54 as non-healthy based on body condition and packed cell volume (PCV). Non-healthy animals exhibited significantly lower PCV values, correlating with trypanosome infections. Microscopy identified trypanosome parasites in one goat, one sheep, and one camel, all from the non-healthy group. Molecular analysis using (ITS-1 PCR) further confirmed the presence of Trypanosoma evansi in the camel. These findings present the need for enhanced diagnostic techniques in routine veterinary practices and robust biosecurity measures such as quarantining newly introduced livestock, public awareness about the risks associated with livestock movement, and informed policy decisions to mitigate the spread of trypanosomiasis, particularly in regions exposed to cross-border livestock movement. This research promotes a proactive approach to managing emerging zoonotic diseases in vulnerable regions. Strengthening surveillance and implementing targeted control strategies are essential to minimizing the economic burden of trypanosomiasis on Nigeria's livestock industry, particularly and on Africa as a whole.