Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Trypanosoma brucei Isolates from Cattle in the Middle Belt of Nigeria

Genetic diversity and population structure analysis of Trypanosoma brucei isolates from cattle herds in Nigeria's middle belt zone is essential for understanding transmission dynamics, informing drug resistance surveillance, and evaluating the impact of control interventions on parasite population genetics. This study characterises the genetic diversity and population structure of T. brucei isolates from cattle in the middle belt region of Nigeria, encompassing Benue, Nasarawa, and Kogi States. An analytical cross-sectional design was employed, recruiting 200 trypanosome-positive cattle identified by buffy coat examination and Giemsa microscopy from 40 herds across the three states. Isolates were confirmed by species-specific PCR targeting the T. brucei-specific satellite DNA. Microsatellite genotyping at eight polymorphic loci was used to characterise genetic diversity, allelic richness, and linkage disequilibrium as measures of clonality versus recombination in the parasite population. Recent molecular epidemiological studies from 2020 to 2024 document unexpectedly high genetic diversity in West African T. brucei cattle populations, with implications for host range adaptation and chemotherapy response. This study produces the first multi-state population genetic dataset for Nigerian cattle trypanosomes, filling a critical molecular epidemiology gap. Findings will be submitted to the National Veterinary Research Institute Vom and published in an international parasitology journal. Keywords: Trypanosoma brucei, genetic diversity, population structure, microsatellite, middle belt Nigeria.