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

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DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15357407

Abstract

Trichinellosis, a re-emerging zoonotic disease with global prevalence, affects mammals, birds, and reptiles through the consumption of raw or undercooked pork containing Trichinella larvae. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the ATP6 synthase F0 subunit (ATP6) gene as a genetic marker for detecting migratory Trichinella spiralis larvae in the blood of slaughtered pigs in Kaduna Metropolis, Nigeria. Whole blood samples from nine pigs, sourced from backyard farms and slaughtered at a local abattoir, were analysed using 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-based approach, utilising species-specific primers for ATP6, enables real-time diagnosis of trichinellosis, offering earlier detection compared to conventional methods such as microscopy, pepsin digestion, or serology.

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Published

2025-05-07

How to Cite

Ojodale, P. I., Inabo, H. I., Ella, E. E., & Okubanjo, O. O. (2025). Application of ATP6 as Genetic Marker for the Detection of Migratory Trichinella spiralis Larvae in the Blood of Slaughtered Pigs in Kaduna Metropolis, Nigeria. GVU Journal of Science, Health and Technology GVU J-SHT, 10(1), 92–96. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15357407