Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Trypanosoma-Infected Glossina palpalis in the Lower Benue Valley, Benue State, North Central Nigeria

The genetic diversity and population connectivity of tsetse flies have direct implications for the spread and management of animal trypanosomiasis. The Lower Benue Valley in Benue State supports a dense Glossina palpalis population associated with riverine vegetation and cattle grazing corridors, yet population genetic data for this region are absent. This study investigates the genetic diversity and population structure of G. palpalis along the Lower Benue River using microsatellite markers and examines Trypanosoma infection prevalence by species in the context of population connectivity. Adult flies will be collected using NG2G traps at 15 river sites spanning 200 km of the Benue Valley. Leg tissue will be used for DNA extraction and genotyping at eight microsatellite loci. Midgut and salivary gland dissections will assess trypanosome infection rates and species identity will be confirmed by PCR. Population differentiation, gene flow, and effective population size estimates will be produced using STRUCTURE and Migrate-N software. The study tests the hypothesis that gene flow among populations is maintained along riparian corridors and explores whether infection rates correlate with genetic diversity parameters. Findings will inform intervention design for the National Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Control Programme. Keywords: Glossina palpalis, population genetics, trypanosomiasis, Benue Valley, microsatellite markers