Molecular Identification and Prevalence of Animal African Trypanosomes Among Cattle Distributed within Jebba Axis of River Niger, Kwara State.

Background: Trypanosomiasis is a fatal disease that threatens the economy of at least 37 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa most especially livestock farming. In this study, we sought to investigate the prevalence of trypanosome infection in cattle, the potentials of these livestock as reservoirs of human-infective trypanosomes and the spatial distribution of trypanosome infected herds. Methods: : The survey was conducted at the midland between the Northern and Southern part of Nigeria, an area perceived to have harboured migrating animals over the years due to insecurity in the north. A randomized cross-sectional study was conducted along the Jebba axis of river Niger, Kwara state by screening cattle from 36 herd clusters by nested PCR using ITS-1 generic primers. Data generated were analyzed using the Chi square test at 95% confidence interval. Results: : Microscopic screening identified 3/398 samples representing 0.75% prevalence while twelve animals, representing 3.02% of the 398 sampled were detected as positive by PCR. Our result showed a decline in the PCV of infected animals (24.7%). The infection rate were categorized as single infection 11/12 (91.67%) and mixed infection 1/12 (8.33%). Animals were more susceptible to Trypanosoma congolense infection (50%) with T. congolense Savannah being the most prevalent Sub-specie (71.4%). Consequently, Trypanosome infections were more prevalent among female animals (4.30%), young animals (10.0%), White Fulani breeds (3.7%), animals with residency period of three years or less (3.18%), Transhumance animals (3.6%), animals with the diseases history (4.05%), animals with no history of drug administration (3.1%), animals close to river Niger (56.2%), larger herds (33.3%) and animals that have travelled to trypanosome endemic areas (50.0%). Aside age and distance of animals from river Niger, statistical difference in every other parameter tested were based on mere probabilistic chance. Spatial data showed that the disease is prevalent among herd located in less than 3Km distance from the river Niger which may represent a key risk factor. Conclusion: It is concluded that our study area may not be classified endemic but the epidemiological significance of this finding is that at least cattle populations may play a vital role in the maintenance and possible resurgence of the disease in the study area.