Abstract
BackgroundThis study focused on the savannah tsetse species Glossina swynnertoni and G. morsitans centralis, both efficient vectors of human and animal trypanosomiasis in, respectively, East and Central Africa. The aim was to develop long-lasting, practical and cost-effective visually attractive devices that induce the strongest landing responses in these two species for use as insecticide-impregnated tools in population suppression.Methods and findingsTrials were conducted in different seasons and years in Tanzania (G. swynnertoni) and in Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC, G. m. centralis) to measure the performance of traps (pyramidal and epsilon) and targets of different sizes, shapes and colours, with and without chemical baits, at different population densities and under different environmental conditions. Adhesive film was used to catch flies landing on devices at the remote locations to compare tsetse-landing efficiencies. Landing rates by G. m. centralis in both Angola and the DRC were highest on blue-black 1 m2 oblong and 0.5 m2 square and oblong targets but were not significantly different from landings on the pyramidal trap. Landings by G. swynnertoni on 0.5 m2 blue-black oblong targets were likewise not significantly lower than on equivalent 1 m2 square targets. The length of target horizontal edge was closely correlated with landing rate. Blue-black 0.5 m2 targets performed better than equivalents in all-blue for both G. swynnertoni and G. m. centralis, although not consistently. Baiting with chemicals increased the proportion of G. m. centralis entering pyramidal traps.ConclusionsThis study confirms earlier findings on G. swynnertoni that smaller visual targets, down to 0.5 m2, would be as efficient as using 1 m2 targets for population management of this species. This is also the case for G. m. centralis. An insecticide-impregnated pyramidal trap would also constitute an effective control device for G. m. centralis.
Highlights
Diseases transmitted by tsetse flies, notably human African trypanosomiasis (HAT or sleeping sickness) and African animal trypanosomosis (AAT or Nagana), are caused by the transmission of trypanosomes, and are still a serious health and economic burden in sub-Saharan Africa [1,2]
Trials were conducted in different seasons and years in Tanzania (G. swynnertoni) and in Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC, G. m. centralis) to measure the performance of traps and targets of different sizes, shapes and colours, with and without chemical baits, at different population densities and under different environmental conditions
The largest target tested induced the highest number of G. swynnertoni and G. pallidipes to land on it, but this was not significantly greater than the daily landing rates for the 0.5 m2 blueblack oblong target for both species (P > 0.05; Table 2 & Fig 2)
Summary
Diseases transmitted by tsetse flies, notably human African trypanosomiasis (HAT or sleeping sickness) and African animal trypanosomosis (AAT or Nagana), are caused by the transmission of trypanosomes, and are still a serious health and economic burden in sub-Saharan Africa [1,2]. After a resurgence in cases in the 1990s [3], increased treatment and vector control reduced the reported incidence of HAT from over 30,000 per year to below 3,000 per year in 2015 [1]. This study focuses on Glossina swynnertoni Austen (Diptera, Glossinidae) and G. morsitans centralis Machado, two closely related savannah or Morsitans group tsetse [6]. This study focused on the savannah tsetse species Glossina swynnertoni and G. morsitans centralis, both efficient vectors of human and animal trypanosomiasis in, respectively, East and Central Africa. The aim was to develop long-lasting, practical and cost-effective visually attractive devices that induce the strongest landing responses in these two species for use as insecticide-impregnated tools in population suppression.
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