| Trypanosome infections were monitored in Glossina
pallidipes, G. morsitans centralis and G. brevipalpis at 4 locations in
the Kagera River region of Rwanda, from May 1989 to September 1990. Two of the 4 areas
(Mpanga Ranch and Bukora Ranch) were subjected to tsetse fly suppression operations with
odour-baited traps. Proboscis infections of the Trypanosoma congolense and T.
vivax types accounted for roughly equal numbers of the 207 mature infections detected
(3.8%). Variation in infection rates was area-specific rather then tsetse
species-specific. Order of magnitude differences in tsetse fly densities among areas were
not correlated with differences in infection rates at the start of tsetse fly suppression
operations. Similarly, declines in population density on both control and experimental
areas were not associated with significant changes in infection rates. The prevalence of
trypanosomiasis in cattle at Bukora Ranch was not affected by a roughly 90% reduction in Glossina
densities. T. congolense accounted for 79% of the infections, at an overall
prevalence rate of 5.5%. Trypanosomiasis in cattle persisted at extremely low densities of
about 0.1 fly/trap/day. Treatment of cattle with diminazene aceturate (Berenil) suggested
that many T. congolense parasites were drug resistant, and hence, were cycling
among cattle due to the few Glossina present. |