Animal African Trypanosomiasis in Nigeria: A long way from elimination/eradication

Abstract

Animal African Trypanosomiasis (AAT) is a disease of livestock that directly hinders livestock production and therefore impedes the socio-economic development of sub-Saharan Africa. The establishment of the Pan-African Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Campaign (PATTEC) was to enhance the goal of elimination and eradication of tsetse flies and AAT from endemic countries in Africa. In order to achieve AAT eradication, a five-step progressive control pathway (PCP) model has been proposed. The data presented in this report demonstrates that Nigeria is highly endemic of AAT and that it is yet to comprehensively approach the process of eradication as it is at the infancy stage of data gathering and processing. This review is thus presented to serve as a wake-up call to all relevant stakeholders to intensify efforts in approaching the painstaking process of AAT eradication in Nigeria.

Keywords: Animal African Trypanosomiasis (AAT); Livestock; Nigeria; The progressive control pathway (PCP).