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Trypanosome infections and survival in tsetse

Published by:
Publication date
16/03/2011
Number of Pages
6
Language:
English
Type of Publication:
Articles & Journals
Focus Region:
Global
Focus Topic:
Health & Diseases
Type of Risk:
Biological & environmental
Commodity:
Livestock
Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0031182000084912
Author
Maudlin, I.; Milligan, P.J.M.; Welburn, S.C.
Organization
Institute of Biomedical and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow

The effect of trypanosome infection on vector survival was observed in a line of Glossina morsitans morsitans selected for susceptibility to trypanosome infection. The differential effects of midgut and salivary gland infections on survival were examined by exposing flies to infection with either Trypanosoma Congo Republiclense which colonizes midgut and mouthparts or Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense which colonizes midgut and salivary glands. A comparison of the survival distributions of uninfected flies with those exposed to infection showed that salivary gland infection significantly reduces tsetse survival; midgut infection had little or no effect on the survival of tsetse. The significance of these findings is discussed in relation to the vectorial capacity of wild flies.