Modelled impact of Tiny Targets on the distribution and abundance of riverine tsetse

Esterhuizen, Johan, Vale, Glyn A., Hargrove, John W., Hope, Andrew and Torr, Steve ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9550-4030 (2024) 'Modelled impact of Tiny Targets on the distribution and abundance of riverine tsetse'. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Vol 18, Issue 4, e0011578.

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Abstract

Background
The insecticide-treated baits known as Tiny Targets are one of the cheapest means of controlling riverine species of tsetse flies, the vectors of the trypanosomes that cause sleeping sickness in humans. Models of the efficacy of these targets deployed near rivers are potentially useful in planning control campaigns and highlighting the principals involved.

Methods and principal findings
To evaluate the potential of models, we produced a simple non-seasonal model of the births, deaths, mobility and aging of tsetse, and we programmed it to simulate the impact of seven years of target use against the tsetse, Glossina fuscipes fuscipes, in the riverine habitats of NW Uganda. Particular attention was given to demonstrating that the model could explain three matters of interest: (i) good control can be achieved despite the degradation of targets, (ii) local elimination of tsetse is impossible if invasion sources are not tackled, and (iii)with invasion and target degradation it is difficult to detect any effect of control on the age structure of the tsetse population.

Conclusions
Despite its simplifications, the model can assist planning and teaching, but allowance should be made for any complications due to seasonality and management challenges associated with greater scale.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	QX Parasitology > QX 20 Research (General) QX Parasitology > Insects. Other Parasites > QX 505 Diptera QX Parasitology > Insects. Other Parasites > QX 600 Insect control. Tick control WC Communicable Diseases > Tropical and Parasitic Diseases > WC 705 Trypanosomiasis
Faculty: Department:	Biological Sciences > Vector Biology Department
Digital Object Identifer (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0011578
Depositing User:	Cathy Waldron
Date Deposited:	01 May 2024 14:44
Last Modified:	01 May 2024 14:44
URI:	https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/24414

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