Where, when and why do tsetse contact humans? Answers from studies in a National Park of Zimbabwe
Date
2012-08
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
PLoS
Abstract
Background: Sleeping sickness, also called human African trypanosomiasis, is transmitted by the tsetse, a blood-sucking fly
confined to sub-Saharan Africa. The form of the disease in West and Central Africa is carried mainly by species of tsetse that
inhabit riverine woodland and feed avidly on humans. In contrast, the vectors for the East and Southern African form of the
disease are usually savannah species that feed mostly on wild and domestic animals and bite humans infrequently, mainly
because the odours produced by humans can be repellent. Hence, it takes a long time to catch many savannah tsetse from
people, which in turn means that studies of the nature of contact between savannah tsetse and humans, and the ways of
minimizing it, have been largely neglected.
Methodology/Principal Findings: The savannah tsetse, Glossina morsitans morsitans and G. pallidipes, were caught from
men in the Mana Pools National park of Zimbabwe. Mostly the catch consisted of young G. m. morsitans, with little food
reserve. Catches were increased by 4–8 times if the men were walking, not stationary, and increased about ten times more if
they rode on a truck at 10 km/h. Catches were unaffected if the men used deodorant or were baited with artificial ox odour,
but declined by about 95% if the men were with an ox. Surprisingly, men pursuing their normal daily activities were bitten
about as much when in or near buildings as when in woodland. Catches from oxen and a standard ox-like trap were poor
indices of the number and physiological state of tsetse attacking men.
Conclusion/Significance: The search for new strategies to minimize the contact between humans and savannah tsetse
should focus on that occurring in buildings and vehicles. There is a need to design a man-like trap to help to provide an
index of sleeping sickness risk.
Description
The original publication is available at http://journals.plos.org/plosntds
CITATION: Torr, S.J., Chamisa, A., Mangwiro, T.N.C. & Vale, G.A. 2012. Where, when and why do tsetse contact humans?: Answers from studies in a National Park of Zimbabwe. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, s 6(8):e1791, doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0001791.
CITATION: Torr, S.J., Chamisa, A., Mangwiro, T.N.C. & Vale, G.A. 2012. Where, when and why do tsetse contact humans?: Answers from studies in a National Park of Zimbabwe. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, s 6(8):e1791, doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0001791.
Keywords
African trypanosomiasis -- -- Zimbabwe -- Mana Pools National Park -- Prevention, Tsetse-flies -- Control -- Zimbabwe -- Mana Pools National Park
Citation
Torr, S.J., Chamisa, A., Mangwiro, T.N.C. & Vale, G.A. 2012. Where, when and why do tsetse contact humans?: Answers from studies in a National Park of Zimbabwe. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, s 6(8):e1791, doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0001791.