The ecological interactions that shapes the AT transmission cycles and their dynamics remain poorly understood. The metabarcoding approach, a new generation multiplex sequencing techniques, allows the simultaneous identification of these ecological interactions in different eco-epidemiological settings. Providing information on vectors’ feeding behaviour, diversity of infecting trypanosomes, favoured ecotypes, and level of insecticide-resistance, amongst others, can orientate the control strategies.

 COMBAT will apply specifically the metarbacoding approach on three topics:

• to understand the possible links between wild and domestic cycles of animal trypanomosis in the wildlife-livestock interface setting

• to evaluate the risk of spread of animal trypanosomosis through livestock commercial routes on animal trypanosomosis vectors caught outside the tsetse belt

• to evaluate the risk for Europe through high added value animal trade