Glossina palpalis as a carrier of trypanosoma vivax in Uganda

Abstract

One of the important trypanosome diseases of cattle in uganda is that caused by Trypanosoma vivax (Ziemann). This species of trypanosome appears to be widely distributed in Central Africa. It has been reported from Senegal, the Sudan and Erthrea in the North, to Rhodesiain the South. It is fairly easily recognised on account of its extreme activity during life, its characteristic shape in stained specimens, and the fact that it only affects cattle, goats, and sheep ; while monleys, dogs, rabbits, guinea-pigs, rats and mice are refractory. Its carriers have usually been reported as tabanus and stomoxys. This short note is written to place on record that fact, that in Uganda the tsetse flies, Glossina palpalis , which are found in large numbers on the Lake-shore, are infected, not only by Trypanosoma gambiense , the cause of sleeping sickness, but also by Trypanosoma vivax . The first experiment which showed that these tsetse flies are infected with the latter trypanosome was the following:-