Combination of laboratory research and remote sensing applications toward mitigation of trypanosomiasis in Africa

Abstract

The need for a comprehensive bi-modal approach toward mitigation of trypanosomiasis in Africa, in both human and animal populations, is examined. Fundamental to such mitigation is the continuance of basic research at the molecular level, which may hold promise of a better understanding of the organism, Trypanosoma brucei, and consequently thereby identify potential controlling mechanisms. Equally important to ultimate mitigation will be the intensification of monitoring both disease incidence and its vector, the Bantu-named tsetse fly (Glossina morsitans) habitat, with the assistance of remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS). Trypanosomiasis, "African sleeping sickness" in human populations or "nagana" in animal populations, is sufficiently geographically dispersed throughout Africa as to require satellite monitoring in order to identify areas with vulnerable human and/or animal populations. Such monitoring should also consider the economical and ecological impacts of trypanocides application. The current study describes basic research underway at the Seattle Biomedical Research Institute on Trypanosoma brucei, reviews existing monitoring programs utilizing remote sensing to assist in controlling the arthropod vector and makes the case for a coordinated in vitro and remote-sensing-assisted in situ bi-modal mitigation strategy. The contributions to the remote sensing literature of the Trypanosomiasis and Land-Use in Africa (TALA) Research Group, of the Programme Against African Trypanosomiasis Information System (PAATIS) and of the Africa Real Time Emergency Management Information System (ARTEMIS) are reviewed. Further, the implications of combining course-resolution multitemporal data with newly-available high-resolution remotely-sensed data are examined. The rationale for coordinating laboratory research and field-based interventions, informed by remote sensing, is articulated.