Infection rates in Glossina morsitans morsitans fed on waterbuck and Boran cattle infected with Trypanosoma congolense

Abstract

Teneral Glossina morsitans morsitans were fed on waterbuck (Kobus defassa) and Boran cattle (Bos indicus) infected experimentally with Trypanosoma congolense clone IL2895. Infection rates in tsetse varied from 9 to 31% when fed on cattle, and from 2 to 59% when fed on waterbuck. In waterbuck, infections were often detected through the development of parasites in tsetse at times when parasitaemia could not be detected through microscopic examination of blood. Male and female, and 1- and 2-day-old flies were equally susceptible to infection on both hosts. Infection in tsetse was associated with a 14% absolute reduction in survival during the month following the infective feed.