Prevalence and Molecular Characterization of Trypanosoma Species in Tsetse, Tabanid and Stomoxys in Bayelsa Oil Palm, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Abstract

<jats:p>Prevalence and molecular characterization of trypanosome species in flies within Bayelsa oil palm, Bayelsa State, Nigeria was investigated through molecular characterization. Fifteen (15) biconical standard traps, baited with cow urine were deployed in the study area for tsetse and tabanid trapping. A total of two hundred and two (202) flies were caught and preserved in well labelled bottles containing 99% ethanol for morphological identification. Out of the 202 caught and identified, 199 (98.5%), 2(0.99%) and 1(0.5%) were tabanid, stomoxes and tse tse flies respectively. Out of the 199 tabanid flies identified, 4(2.0%) were infected while stomoxes and tse tse flies were not infected. Molecular analysis showed that the all the four tabanids were infected with Trypanosoma brucie brucei. The prevalence of trypanosome was recorded to be 4/202(2%). Tabanids was the most abundant vector in the study area and it is a potential vector of trypanosomiasis as it harboured Trypanosoma brucei brucei.</jats:p>