How Do Tsetse Recognise Their Hosts? The Role of Shape in the Responses of Tsetse (Glossina fuscipes and G. palpalis) to Artificial Hosts

Tirados, Inaki, Esterhuizen, Johan, Rayaisse, Jean Baptiste, Diarrassouba, Abdoulaye, Kaba, Dramane, Mpiana, Serge, Vale, Glyn A., Solano, Philippe, Lehane, Mike and Torr, Stephen J. (2011) 'How Do Tsetse Recognise Their Hosts? The Role of Shape in the Responses of Tsetse (Glossina fuscipes and G. palpalis) to Artificial Hosts'. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Vol 5, Issue 8, e1226.

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Abstract

Palpalis-group tsetse, particularly the subspecies of Glossina palpalis and G. fuscipes, are the most important transmitters of human African trypanomiasis (HAT), transmitting .95% of cases. Traps and insecticide-treated targets are used to control tsetse but more cost-effective baits might be developed through a better understanding of the fly’s host-seeking behaviour. Electrocuting grids were used to assess the numbers of G. palpalis palpalis and G. fuscipes quanzensis attracted to and landing on square or oblong targets of black cloth varying in size from 0.01 m2 to 1.0 m2. For both species, increasing the size of a square target from 0.01 m2 (dimensions = 0.160.1 m) to 1.0 m2 (1.061.0 m) increased the catch ,4x however the numbers of tsetse killed per unit area of target declined with target size suggesting that the most cost efficient targets are not the largest. For G. f. quanzensis, horizontal oblongs, (1 m wide60.5 m high) caught ,1.8x more tsetse than vertical ones (0.5 m wide61.0 m high) but the opposite applied for G. p. palpalis. Shape preference was consistent over the range of target sizes. For G. p. palpalis square targets caught as many tsetse as the oblong; while the evidence is less strong the same appears to apply to G. f. quanzensis. The results suggest that targets used to control G. p. palpalis and G. f. quanzensis should be square, and that the most cost-effective designs, as judged by the numbers of tsetse caught per area of target, are likely to be in the region of 0.2560.25 m2. The preference of G. p. palpalis for vertical oblongs is unique amongst tsetse species,and it is suggested that this response might be related to its anthropophagic behaviour and hence importance as a vector of HAT.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	QX Parasitology > Insects. Other Parasites > QX 505 Diptera QX Parasitology > Insects. Other Parasites > QX 650 Insect vectors WC Communicable Diseases > Tropical and Parasitic Diseases > WC 705 Trypanosomiasis
Faculty: Department:	Groups (2002 - 2012) > Vector Group
Digital Object Identifer (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0001226
Depositing User:	Users 183 not found.
Date Deposited:	05 Aug 2011 15:00
Last Modified:	06 Feb 2018 13:03
URI:	https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/2273

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