Apparent density of tsetse flies in lii sub county nwoya district nwoya district

Abstract

Tsetse flies are obligate bloodsucking arthropods of medical and veterinary importance as vectors of trypanosome parasites that cause Animal African Trypanosomiasis (AAT) in animals also known as Nagana and Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) also known as sleeping sickness in human. The tsetse vector is extensively distributed across sub-Saharan Africa. Prevention and control of trypanosomiasis in both animals and humans requires a clear understanding of the population dynamics of the vector in a given area however, such information is scanty in many parts of Uganda. This cross sectional study was conducted in Lii sub-county Nwoya district to determine the apparent density of tsetse flies, sex proportion and the common species. Thirty (30) Ngu tsetse traps were deployed in areas of human settlement, streams, and animal rearing. Flies were harvested after 24hrs, counted and identified by morphological characteristics using a stereo microscope. A total of 704 tsetse flies were caught across the 30 traps that were set in the three villages of Lii subcounty during the study. Majority of the tsetse flies were caught in Ogelo Village (58.1%), followed by Adibuk (25.6%) and Gonycoyo (16.3%). The average flies/trap/day (FTD) from all the three sites was 24.6 ± 5.48 (Mean ± SE), with the highest FTD being in Ogelo village and the least in Adibuk. The tsetse density was 24.6, the species prevalent were G. fuscipes 30.1% with G. pallidipes being the most prevalent at 52.8% and G. morsitans was the least prevalent at 17.10%. According to sex, females were more common at 77.6% compared males (22.4 %). Furthermore, when predictors influencing abundance of tsetse flies were assessed, the study revealed statistical significance for population of animals (p=0.031). The study findings indicate that, the apparent density of tsetse in Lii sub-county is medium (24.6 FTD). Suggesting moderate levels of transmission of the trypanosomes to humans and animals. Attempts should therefore be made to expand government and private veterinary services to serve the community in the control of tsetse flies as well as provision of appropriate prophylactic and therapeutic drugs to control trypanosomiasis