Application of ATP6 as Genetic Marker for the Detection of Migratory Trichinella spiralis Larvae in the Blood of Slaughtered Pigs in Kaduna Metropolis, Nigeria

Trichinellosis, a re-emerging zoonotic disease with global prevalence, affects mammals, birds, and reptilesthrough the consumption of raw or undercooked pork containing Trichinella larvae. This study aimed toevaluate the efficacy of the ATP6 synthase F0 subunit (ATP6) gene as a genetic marker for detecting migratoryTrichinella spiralis larvae in the blood of slaughtered pigs in Kaduna Metropolis, Nigeria. Whole bloodsamples from nine pigs, sourced from backyard farms and slaughtered at a local abattoir, were analysedusing Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) targeting the ATP6 gene, producing an amplicon of 250 base pairs(bp). The molecular analysis revealed a prevalence rate of 33.3% for T. spiralis larvae. The PCR-basedapproach, utilising species-specific primers for ATP6, enables real-time diagnosis of trichinellosis, offeringearlier detection compared to conventional methods such as microscopy, pepsin digestion, or serology.