Expression of TAg 5 in Relation to Presence of Trypanosome Parasites in Tsetse Flies Captured Kagarko LGA, Kaduna State, Nigeria

Tsetse antigen 5 has an accession number of AF259957 and full length transcript of 926 bpconcealed by its complementary DNA without the poly (A) tail. It forms constituent of Tsetse saliva and is therefore injected into the mammalian host during Tsetse feeding and is also known to promote Trypanosome establishment in the host by modulating host’s immune response. This research studied the expression rate of Tsetse Antigen 5 using molecular tools and also the relationship between expression of Tsetse Antigen 5 and presence of Trypanosoma parasites in field captured flies in Kagarko Local Government Area, Kaduna state, Nigeria. During the study, fourty seven (47) Tsetse flies were caught within the period of four (4) months. Only thirty-eight (38) of the fourty seven (47) captured flies were dissected as nine died. Thus, percentage mortality of (19.15%). Dissection was done using the procedure described by the FAO Training manual for Tsetse control personnel and identification of Trypanosomes was done by direct observation of dissected organs under a microscope. RNA extraction was carried out using Trizol plus RNA extraction kit. Further to that, complementary DNA was synthesized from the extracted RNA which was used for reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) using gene specific primers. 4 (10.53%) of the 38 Tsetse flies examined, had expression of Tsetse antigen 5 and also had the presence of Trypanosoma parasites. The expression of Tsetse antigen 5 in field captured flies infected with Trypanosoma parasites showed a positive relationship between presence of Trypanosoma parasites and the expression of Tsetse antigen 5 in field captured Tsetse. The expression of Tsetse antigen 5 is associated with that of Trypanosome infection in the captured flies corroborating thegene’s role in aiding successful transmission of Trypanosomes from vector to host.