scholarly journals Effect of wing length on the prevalence of trypanosomes in Glossina morsitans morsitans in eastern Zambia

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cornelius Mweempwa ◽  
Kalinga Chilongo ◽  
Kyoko Hayashida ◽  
Boniface Namangala

Abstract Background Tsetse flies (Diptera: Glossinidae) transmit trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness in humans and nagana in livestock). Several studies have indicated that age, sex, site of capture, starvation and microbiome symbionts, among others, are important factors that influence trypanosome infection in tsetse flies. However, reasons for a higher infection rate in females than in males still largely remain unknown. Considering that tsetse species and sexes of larger body size are the most mobile and the most available to stationary baits, it was hypothesized in this study that the higher trypanosome prevalence in female than in male tsetse flies was a consequence of females being larger than males. Methods Black screen fly rounds and Epsilon traps were used to collect tsetse flies in eastern Zambia. Measurement of wing vein length and examination for presence of trypanosomes in the flies were carried out by microscopy. Principal component method was carried out to assess the potential of wing vein length as a predictor variable. The multilevel binary logistic regression method was applied on whole data, one-method data and one-sex data sets to evaluate the hypothesis. Results Data derived from a total of 2195 Glossina morsitans morsitans were evaluated (1491 males and 704 females). The wing length variable contributed the highest variance percentage (39.2%) to the first principal component. The variable showed significant influence on prevalence of trypanosomes when the analysis was applied on the whole data set, with the log odds for the prevalence of trypanosomes significantly increasing by 0.1 (P  =  0.032), per unit increase in wing length. Females had higher trypanosome prevalence rates than males, though not always significant. Furthermore, moving from females to males, wing length significantly reduced by 0.2 (P  <  0.0001). Conclusions We conclude that wing length is an important predictor variable for trypanosome prevalence in Glossina morsitans morsitans and could partially explain the higher prevalence of trypanosomes in females than in males. However, reasonably representative population data are required for analysis—a serious challenge with the current tsetse sampling methods. Thus, analysis combining data from mobile and stationary methods that include both sexes' data could be useful to verify this hypothesis. Graphical abstract

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cornelius Mweempwa ◽  
Kalinga Chilongo ◽  
Kyoko Hayashida ◽  
Boniface Namangala

Abstract BackgroundTsetse flies (Diptera: Glossinidae) transmit trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness in humans and nagana in livestock). Several studies have indicated that the age, sex, site of capture, starvation and microbiome symbionts, among others, are important factors influencing trypanosome infection in tsetse flies. However, reasons for a higher infection rate in females than in males still largely remain unknown. As species and sexes of tsetse flies of larger body size are the most mobile and the most available to stationary baits, it was hypothesized in this study that, the higher trypanosome prevalence in female than in male tsetse flies was because females were larger than males.Materials and methodsBlack screen fly rounds and epsilon traps were used to collect tsetse flies in eastern Zambia. Wing vein length was measured and the presence of trypanosomes was examined by microscopy. Principal component method was carried out to determine which variables had potential to be used as predictor variables. The multilevel binary logistic regression method was applied on whole data, one-method data and one-sex data sets to evaluate the hypothesis. ResultsA total of 2,195 Glossina m. morsitans data were evaluated (1,491 and 704 males and females, respectively). The wing length variable contributed the highest variance percentage (39.15%) to the first principal component. The wing length variable showed significant influence on prevalence of trypanosomes when the whole data set was analyzed. The log odds for the prevalence of trypanosomes significantly increased by 0.123 (p = 0.032), per unit increase in wing length. Moreover, moving from females to males, wing length significantly reduced by 0.150 (p < 0.0001) and females had higher trypanosome prevalence rates than males, though not always significant. ConclusionWing length is an important determinant factor for trypanosome prevalence in G. m. morsitans and could partially explain the higher prevalence of trypanosomes in females than in males. To verify this status, however, it’s clear that, reasonably representative population data is required for analysis – a serious challenge with the current tsetse sampling methods. Nonetheless, analysis of combined data from mobile and stationary methods that includes both sexes data, could verify the status.


1999 ◽  
Vol 89 (4) ◽  
pp. 381-387 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Van den Bossche ◽  
J.W. Hargrove

AbstractA total of 4420 male Glossina morsitans morsitans Westwood were captured on man fly-rounds in Katete District, Eastern Province, Zambia between February 1991 and December 1993. Of these flies, 1680 were captured before June 1992, during which period 989 flies were also captured on odour-baited electric screens operated in the same area. Non-teneral flies were analysed for fat, haematin and residual dry weight and their wing-vein length was measured. There were well marked annual cycles in wing length, fat and residual dry weight. Flies were biggest at the end of the rainy season, and smallest at the end of the hot dry season. Fat levels were lowest before the onset of the rains and highest in the cool season. Residual dry weight was a function of haematin content and the degree of wing-fray; these factors were used to correct the residual dry weight to zero haematin. Corrected residual dry weight and wing-vein lengths were most highly correlated with relative humidity in the month prior to capture (r > 0.8 and 0.6 respectively). Correlations with saturation deficit were weaker; temperature accounted for <20% of the variance. Fly-round flies had a consistently higher residual dry weight than those from the electric screen, but their fat levels were lower. The distributions of log haematin levels differed little between the two sampling methods and were adequately described by a model where capture and feeding rates increased exponentially after each meal. The increase in the feeding rate after each meal differed little with season and was closely similar to that estimated for female G. pallidipesAusten in Zimbabwe.


Author(s):  
Kalinga Chilongo ◽  
Tawanda Manyangadze ◽  
Samson Mukaratirwa

Abstract The effect of human-associated habitat degradation on tsetse populations is well established. However, more insights are needed into how gradual human encroachment into tsetse fly belts affect tsetse populations. This study investigated how wing vein length, wing fray categories, and hunger stages, taken as indicators of body size, age, and levels of access to hosts, respectively, in Glossina morsitans morsitans Westwood (Diptera: Glossinidae) and Glossina pallidipes Austen (Diptera: Glossinidae), varied along a transect from the edge into inner parts of the tsetse belt, in sites that had human settlement either concentrated at the edge of belt or evenly distributed along transect line, in north-eastern Zambia. Black-screen fly round and Epsilon traps were used in a cross-sectional survey on tsetse flies at three sites, following a transect line marked by a road running from the edge into the inner parts of the tsetse belt, per site. Two sites had human settlement concentrated at or close to the edge of the tsetse belt, whereas the third had human settlement evenly distributed along the transect line. Where settlements were concentrated at the edge of tsetse belt, increase in distance from the settlements was associated with increase in wing vein length and a reduction in the proportion of older, and hungry, tsetse flies. Increase in distance from human settlements was associated with improved tsetse well-being, likely due to increase in habitat quality due to decrease in effects of human activities.


2002 ◽  
Vol 80 (7) ◽  
pp. 1149-1155 ◽  
Author(s):  
W G Evans ◽  
R H Gooding

The roles and interactions of turbulent plumes of heat, moist heat, and carbon dioxide in mediating upwind flight of adult tsetse flies (Glossina morsitans morsitans Westwood) were investigated using a wind tunnel in a constant-environment chamber. Heat fluctuations in the plume that were detected by a thermocouple and displayed as oscilloscope traces allowed direct visualization of the structures of the plumes. Significantly more flies flew upwind when exposed to plumes of (i) carbon dioxide (0.0051% above background) and air (58% relative humidity) compared with air alone; (ii) carbon dioxide and heated air (35% relative humidity and temperature fluctuating up to 0.09°C above background) compared with carbon dioxide and air; and (iii) carbon dioxide and moist (82% relative humidity) heated air (temperature fluctuating up to 0.05°C above background) compared with carbon dioxide and heated air. However, there were no significant differences in upwind flight of flies exposed to plumes of (i) air compared with humidified air (65% relative humidity); (ii) carbon dioxide and heated air compared with heated air alone; and (iii) carbon dioxide and moist heated air compared with moist heated air alone. Recorded temperature fluctuations in heat plumes transported downwind from a tethered steer in a pasture showed patterns similar to those produced in the wind-tunnel plumes. These results suggest that host emissions of carbon dioxide alone and combined heat and moisture carried downwind by low-velocity winds elicit upwind anemotaxis in tsetse flies, which distinguish these emissions from a background of lower atmospheric levels.


1991 ◽  
Vol 81 (3) ◽  
pp. 323-331 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. A. Vale

AbstractField studies in Zimbabwe elucidated how trees might be enhanced as baits for controlling Glossina morsitans morsitans Westwood and G. pallidipes Austen. Catches from electrocuting devices at the bases of trees were near nil when sampling tsetse flies landing on the trunk but much greater when sampling them flying within 1 m of the trunk. Catches increased 5–8 times when 2 m2 of the trunk were blackened and given odour of acetone, 1-octen-3-ol, 3-n-propyl phenol and 4-methyl phenol, but were still only ca. 30% of the catches from an odour-baited, free-standing, 1 × 1 m screen of black cloth. The upright trunk of real and model trees hindered their attractiveness but leaves and branches 5 m above ground had no clear effect. Real and artificial stumps of trees were as effective as the screen if they were 1 m2, compact and sharply outlined. The practical and biological implications of the results are discussed, with particular reference to the use of insecticide-treated netting with modified tree stumps as baits for control.


1980 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 79-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jon G. Houseman

The anterior midgut of Glossina morsitans morsitans Westwood contains a proteinase inhibitor, molecular weight 5000 ± 2000daltons, stable to 1 M HCl, heat, and dialysis, but unstable to 1% trichloroacetic acid. Inhibitor activity is not associated with anticoagulant in the anterior midgut. The specific activity of the proteinase inhibitor is similar in mated and unmated females and greater than in male tsetse flies. Proteinase inhibitor inhibits proteinase VI and trypsin hydrolysis of N-benzoyl-L-arginine ethyl ester (BAEE) and benzoyl-DL-arginine-p-nitroanilide (BAPNA) but has no effect on proteinase VI hydrolysis of haemoglobin. Inhibition of trypsin hydrolysis of haemoglobin is noncompetitive. Proteinase inhibitor levels in the anterior midgut decreased immediately after feeding and then increased, reaching a maximum 60–100 h after ingestion of the bloodmeal. Postteneral flies contained higher levels of proteinase inhibitor than teneral individuals. Trypsin activity in gut homogenates of Phormia regina and Aedes aegypti was inhibited by the tsetse inhibitor. There was no detectable inhibition of bovine or Pterostichus adstrictus trypsin activity. Inhibition of Periplaneta americana trypsin occurred but was less than fly trypsin inhibition. The possible role of the inhibitor in terminating proteinase production is discussed.


Acta Tropica ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 160 ◽  
pp. 53-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benson M. Wachira ◽  
Paul O. Mireji ◽  
Sylvance Okoth ◽  
Margaret M. Ng’ang’a ◽  
Julius M. William ◽  
...  

1988 ◽  
Vol 78 (2) ◽  
pp. 293-300 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. A. Vale ◽  
D. R. Hall ◽  
A. J. E. Gough

AbstractIn Zimbabwe, catches of Glossina morsitans morsitans Westwood and G. pallidipes Austen in traps baited with acetone and 1-octen-3-ol were increased by the addition of the synthetic mixture of eight phenols found in cattle urine to a level equal to or greater than those with natural urine. The addition of natural urine to the synthetic mixture did not increase catches further, indicating that the phenols account for essentially all the attractiveness of cattle urine. 4-Methylphenol and 3-n-propylphenol were shown to be the naturally-occurring components essential for attractiveness, and 2-methoxyphenol was found to reduce attractiveness. 4-Methylphenol alone was slightly attractive to both species, but only for males, increasing catches by approximately 30%. Catches of both species were increased by approximately 50% by 3-n-propylphenol. The addition of 4-methylphenol increased catches of G. pallidipes by up to a further four times, but catches of G. m. morsitans were decreased. Of 14 other phenols tested, phenol, 3-methylphenol and 4-ethylphenol increased the attractiveness of 3-n-propylphenol to G. pallidipes without decreasing the attractiveness to G. m. morsitans; (E)- and (Z)-3-(1-propenyl)phenol, potential contaminants in 3-n- propylphenol, did not reduce the attractiveness of mixtures of 3-n-propylphenol and 4-methylphenol, and the E and, to a lesser extent, the Z isomer could substitute for 3-n-pro-pylphenol in these mixtures. Mixtures of phenols which increased the attractiveness of traps to tsetse showed similar effects with targets but at a slightly reduced level.


1981 ◽  
Vol 71 (2) ◽  
pp. 259-265 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. A. Vale

AbstractIn Zimbabwe, field studies were made of the extent to which catches of Glossina morsitans morsitans Westw. and G. pallidipes Aust. from stationary visual targets plus ox odour were changed by maintaining the ox on normal, starving or fattening diets. A fattening diet after a week of starvation often produced a several-fold increase in catches in a few days, followed by a declining catch associated with lack of appetite, and a further increase in catch when appetite was restored. Carbon dioxide and acetone emitted by the oxen could not account fully for the level and variations of catches.


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