The macrocyclic lactone "spinosad," a promising insecticide for tsetse fly control

The susceptibility of tsetse flies (Diptera: Glossinidae), Glossina palpalis gambiensis (Vanderplank), and G. m. morsitans (Westwood) to topically applied spinosad, a mixture of insecticidal molecules from the actinomycete Saccharopolyspora spinosa, is almost as high as to deltamethrin. However, susceptibility to spinosad does not differ significantly between teneral and gravid flies, contrary to deltamethrin. Spinosad might be a promising candidate for future tsetse control by the sequential aerial technique.

Human African trypanosomiasis amongst urban residents in Kinshasa: a case-control study

BACKGROUND

Increasing numbers of human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) cases have been reported in urban residents of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic Congo since 1996. We set up a case-control study to identify risk factors for the disease.

METHODS

All residents of the urban part of Kinshasa with parasitologically confirmed HAT and presenting for treatment to the city's specialized HAT clinics between 1 August, 2002 and 28 February, 2003 were included as cases. We defined the urban part as the area with contiguous habitation and a population density >5000 inhabitants per square kilometre. A digital map of the area was drawn based on a satellite image. For each case, two serologically negative controls were selected, matched on age, sex and neighbourhood. Logistic regression models were fitted to control for confounding.

RESULTS

The following risk factors were independently associated with HAT: travel, commerce and cultivating fields in Bandundu, and commerce and cultivating fields in the rural part of Kinshasa. No association with activities in the city itself was found.

DISCUSSION

In 2002, the emergence of HAT in urban residents of Kinshasa appears mainly linked to disease transmission in Bandundu and rural Kinshasa. We recommend to intensify control of these foci, to target HAT screening in urban residents to people with contact with these foci, to increase awareness of HAT amongst health workers in the urban health structures and to strengthen disease surveillance.

A cross-sectional epidemiological survey of bovine trypanosomosis and its vectors in the Savelugu and West Mamprusi districts of northern Ghana

The epidemiology of bovine trypanosomosis was investigated in two districts (Savelugu and West Mamprusi) of Northern Ghana with different land use and environmental characteristics. The land use intensity and environmental change was suspected to be higher in the Savelugu District. A cross-sectional entomological survey conducted along the White Volta river and its tributaries confirmed the presence of only Glossina palpalis gambiensis and G. tachinoides. The challenge index as measured by the product of tsetse density and tsetse infection rate was much higher in the West Mamprusi (19.6) than in the Savelugu district (4.7). A total of 1013 cattle (508 in Savelugu and 505 in West Mamprusi) were bled from a random selection of 16 villages in the Savelugu District and 13 villages in the West Mamprusi District. Blood samples were examined for trypanosomes by the buffy coat technique (BCT). Blood samples that were positive in the BCT or negative in the BCT but with packed cell volume (PCV) values below 21 were further tested with a polymerase chain reaction for trypanosomal DNA. Plasma samples of all cattle were serologically tested with an indirect ELISA for trypanosomal antibodies. The parasitological and serological prevalence of bovine trypanosomoses was significantly higher in West Mamprusi (16 and 53%, respectively) than in Savelugu District (8 and 24%, respectively). An evaluation of animal health at the village herd level, using PCV as an index of anaemia, provided various epidemiological scenarios prevalent in the entire study area.

Recirculation of Trypanosoma brucei brucei in cattle after T. congolense challenge by tsetse flies

The effect of challenging cattle, chronically infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei, with T. congolense on the development of the T. b. brucei infection was investigated. For this purpose, nine experimental animals were first infected with T. b. brucei through the bites of infected tsetse flies. Once the T. b. brucei had developed into a chronic infection, that was difficult to detect using routine parasitological diagnostic tools, seven of the experimental animals were challenged by tsetse flies infected with T. congolense. Two of the animals infected with T. b. brucei were kept as control. The infection with T. congolense resulted in a sudden increase in the parasitaemia of T. b. brucei. In the T. b. brucei control animals, on the other hand, the parasitaemia remained below the level of detection. The epidemiological repercussions of this increase in the parasitaemia of T. b. brucei after infection with T. congolense are discussed.

Comparison of the infection rate of tsetse, Glossina morsitans morsitans, fed in vitro or in vivo

Studies were made of infection rates of trypanosomes in the tsetse fly Glossina morsitans morsitans Westwood (Diptera: Glossinidae) when maintained in vivo (rabbits) or in vitro on high quality, gamma-irradiated, sterile defibrinated bovine blood, obtained from the Entomology Unit of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). For both Trypanosoma congolense Broden and T. b. brucei Plimmer & Bradford, in vitro maintenance significantly reduced the proportion of flies that developed mature metacyclic trypanosome infections.

The transmission of mixed Trypanosoma brucei brucei/T. congolense infections by tsetse (Glossina morsitans morsitans)

Laboratory experiments and field observations clearly show that tsetse flies can be carriers of mixed trypanosome infections. Question remains how easy it is for the tsetse fly to acquire such a mixed infection during the first bloodmeal. This is of particular importance in the epidemiology of Trypanosoma brucei s.l., often a cryptic infection and difficult to transmit to non-teneral tsetse flies. To determine the transmission rate of T. brucei as part of a mixed infection, teneral Glossina morsitans morsitans were fed once on cattle with a mixed (Trypanosoma brucei brucei/Trypanosoma congolense) or single (T. brucei) infection. Of the 140 flies fed on animals with a mixed infection and examined 30 days later, 4 had a metacylic T. brucei infection, 29 a T. congolense infection and 13 a mixed T. brucei/T. congolense infection. There was no significant difference between the transmission rate of T. brucei as a single or as part of a mixed infection. The high proportion of mixed T.b. brucei/T. congolense infections was explained best by a model implying that if a fly is refractory to T. congolense, it is also refractory to T.b. brucei and vice versa. Hence, results suggest that the transmission of T.b. brucei is affected mainly by the vectorial capacity of flies and not by concurrent trypanosome infections in the host.

Seasonal variations in the distribution and abundance of the tsetse fly, Glossina morsitans morsitans in eastern Zambia

The seasonal changes in the distribution of Glossina morsitans morsitans Westwood (Diptera: Glossinidae) and its main host, cattle, were examined in a cultivated area of the plateau of eastern Zambia. During four consecutive years, the tsetse and cattle populations were monitored along a fly-round transect traversing the two main vegetation types in the study area. These were miombo, a one-storied open woodland with the genera Brachystegia and Julbernardia dominant, and munga, a one- or two-storied woodland where the principal tree genera were Acacia, Combretum and Terminalia. Concurrently, a capture/mark/release/recapture (CMRR) exercise was conducted along two other transects also traversing both vegetation types. The index of apparent abundance of tsetse (IAA) in miombo increased at the beginning of the rainy season (November), reached its peak at the end of the rainy season (April) and was low during the cold season (May to late August), but especially the hot dry season (September to late October). The IAA of tsetse in munga showed a pattern that was the reverse of that in miombo. The seasonal changes in the IAA of tsetse in both vegetation types were in accordance with changes in the movement patterns of tsetse between the two vegetation type as observed using CMRR. The distribution and abundance of cattle along the transect also showed a seasonal trend. This was especially so in munga, during the first three years of observations, where cattle abundance increased gradually from June onwards, reached a maximum at the end of the hot dry season (October-November) and declined steeply at the start of the rainy season (November-December). In both vegetation types, the monthly mean IAA of tsetse was positively correlated with the abundance of cattle in the previous month. It is concluded that the distribution of tsetse in cultivated area of the eastern plateau of Zambia undergoes substantial seasonal changes, which can partly be attributed to changes in the distribution of cattle. The implications of these observations for the control of tsetse are discussed.

A contribution towards simplifying area-wide tsetse surveys using medium resolution meteorological satellite data

A raster or grid-based Geographic Information System with data on tsetse, trypanosomiasis, animal production, agriculture and land use has recently been developed in Togo. The area-wide sampling of tsetse fly, aided by satellite imagery, is the subject of two separate papers. This paper follows on a first paper, published in this journal, describing the generation of digital tsetse distribution and abundance maps and how these accord with the local climatic and agro-ecological setting. Such maps when combined with data on the disease, the hosts and their owners, should contribute to the knowledge of the spatial epidemiology of trypanosomiasis and assist planning of integrated control operations. Here we address the problem of generating tsetse distribution and abundance maps from remotely sensed data, using a restricted amount of field data. Different discriminant analysis models have been applied using contemporary tsetse data and remotely sensed, low resolution data acquired from the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Meteosat platforms. The results confirm the potential of satellite data application and multivariate analysis for the prediction of the tsetse distribution and abundance. This opens up new avenues because satellite predictions and field data may be combined to strengthen and/or substitute one another. The analysis shows how the strategic incorporation of satellite imagery may minimize field collection of data. Field surveys may be modified and conducted in two stages, first concentrating on the expected fly distribution limits and thereafter on fly abundance. The study also shows that when applying satellite data, care should be taken in selecting the optimal number of predictor variables because this number varies with the amount of training data for predicting abundance and on the homogeneity of the distribution limits for predicting fly presence. Finally, it is suggested that in addition to the use of contemporary training data and predictor variables, training and predicted data sets should refer to the same eco-geographic zone.

The spatial pattern of trypanosomosis prevalence predicted with the aid of satellite imagery

Information on the spatial pattern of African animal trypanosomosis forms a prerequisite for rational disease management, but few data exist for any country in the continent. The present study describes a raster or grid-based Geographic Information System for Togo, a country representative of subhumid West Africa, with data layers on tsetse, trypanosomosis, animal production, agriculture and land use. The paper shows how trypanosomosis prevalence and packed cell volume (PCV) map displays may be predicted from correlations between representative field data and environmental and satellite data acquired from the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Meteosat platforms. Discriminant analytical methods were used to assess the relationship between the amount of field data used and the accuracy of the predictions obtained. The accuracy of satellite derived predictions decreases from tsetse abundance to trypanosomosis prevalence to PCV value. The predictions improve when eco-climatic and epidemiological predictors are combined. In Togo, and probably elsewhere, the patterns of trypanosomosis prevalence and PCV are much influenced by animal husbandry and other anthropogenic factors. Additional predictor variables, incorporating these influences might therefore further improve the models.

The area-wide epidemiology of bovine trypanosomosis and its impact on mixed farming in subhumid West Africa; a case study in Togo

This paper reports on an area wide study of all major variables determining the expression of trypanosomosis in cattle in the subhumid eco-zone of West Africa, taking Togo as an example. To enable systematic area-wide sampling, the country was divided in 311 grid-squares of 0.125 x 0.125 sides. Cross-sectional surveys were then conducted to generate maps or digital layers on cattle density, herd structure, ownership and breed. These data layers, except for the breed data, were subjected to a cluster analysis in order to define spatial patterns in animal husbandry systems. This analysis revealed two main systems: one is oriented towards integration with crop-agriculture and a second towards investment in cattle. These two systems could be further characterised by incorporating breed data. Zebu cattle and their crossbreeds are more favoured in the second system. The breed distribution map shows the actual situation but also serves to predict the outcome of progressive crossbreeding. An area wide trypanosomosis survey allowed the production of prevalence maps for Trypanosoma congolense, T. vivax and the associated packed cell volume (PCV) values. A simple curvi-linear relationship was established between vector density and disease prevalence. The regression between disease prevalence and PCV for taurine and zebu plus crossbreeds separately, revealed that taurine cattle maintain a comparatively high PCV level particularly in high prevalence scenarios. The relationship between the average herd PCV and cattle density suggests that herd PCV value may provide a mirror for the number of animals not kept because of the prevailing risk. The regression between agricultural intensity and cattle density subsequently in areas with decreasing herd PCV values reveals that the level of integration of cattle in crop production decreases with a decreasing PCV. Thus, despite the presence of taurine animals in Togo, the omnipresence of tsetse in particular Glossina tachinoides, remains a major obstacle to cattle raising and indirectly mixed farming development and intensification. It is argued that only with the present type of wide scale, spatial studies it becomes possible to clarify all the major variables influencing the expression of trypanosomosis. Spatial epidemiological studies at a macro level may form the basis for area wide trypanosomosis control in West Africa.

Extension of the prophylactic effect of isometamidium against trypanosome infections in cattle using a biodegradable copolymer

Two trials were carried out in order to compare the prophylactic effect of a subcutaneously implanted sustained release device (SRD) containing a mixture of a biodegradable copolymer, poly(caprolactone-co-L-lactide), and isometamidium (ISMM) with that obtained after intramuscular injection of the drug. In a first experiment under controlled conditions, two groups of cattle were treated with 0.5 mg/kg isometamidium either as a SRD or intramuscularly (i.m.), and exposed at monthly intervals to Glossina morsitans morsitans infected with Trypanosoma congolense. The average protection period was at least 24 months in the SRD treated against 5.7 months in the i.m. treated group. Using an ISMM enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the drug could be detected until 140 days post-treatment in the latter group, whereas in the former group, traces of the drug were detectable until 330 days after treatment. Furthermore, a field trial was carried out at the Madina Diassa ranch in Mali involving three groups of N'Dama cattle, each containing 23 or 24 animals. Two groups were treated with 1 mg/kg ISMM either as a SRD or i.m. and a third group served as untreated control. Twelve months after treatment, the cumulative infection rates were 56.5, 87.8 and 91.6% in the SRD implanted, the i.m. treated and the control groups, respectively. The ISMM concentrations were slightly lower than in the laboratory trial, but the overall pattern of drug disappearance from the sera of the SRD treated cattle was very similar in both trials. Statistical analysis showed that the incidence of trypanosomiasis was significantly lower in the SRD treated than in the i.m. treated group.

Laboratory and field evaluation of biodegradable polyesters for sustained release of isometamidium and ethidium

An overview is presented of the results obtained with biodegradable sustained release devices (SRDs) containing a mixture of polymers and either isometamidium (ISMM) or ethidium. Under controlled laboratory conditions (monthly challenge with tsetse flies infected with Trypanosoma congolense) the protection period in SRD treated cattle could be extended by a factor 2.8 (for ethidium) up to 4.2 (for ISMM) as compared to animals treated intramuscularly with the same drugs. Using a competitive drug ELISA ISMM concentrations were detected up to 330 days after the implantation of the SRDs, whereas after i.m. injection the drug was no longer present three to four months post treatment. Two field trials carried out in Mali under heavy tsetse challenge showed that the cumulative infection rate was significantly lower in the ISMM-SRD implanted cattle than in those which received ISMM intramuscularly. Using ethidium SRD, however, contradictory results were obtained in field trials in Zambia and in Mali. The potential advantages and inconvenients of the use of SRDs are discussed and suggestions are made in order to further improve the currently available devices.

Biodegradable polyesters for controlled release of trypanocidal drugs: in vitro and in vivo studies

Copolymers of epsilon-caprolactone and L-lactide P(CL-LLA), epsilon-caprolactone and D,L-lactide P(CL-DLLA) and epsilon-caprolactone and trimethylene carbonate P(CL-TMC) were synthesized. The composition of comonomers and their sequence lengths were determined by means of 1H and 13C NMR measurements. The effect of the comonomer on the thermal properties was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis. The in vitro degradation of the rods obtained by melt extrusion of the synthesized copolymers and the commercial homopolymers poly(epsilon-caprolactone) P(CL) and poly(D,L-lactide) P(DLLA) was carried out in phosphate buffer (PB) pH 7.4 at 37 degrees C. The rate of degradation depends on comonomers and polymer composition. The in vitro release of the selected drugs, isometamidium chloride (IMM) and ethidium bromide (EtBr), from such devices was carried out under the same conditions as used for the in vitro degradation. The release experiments show that the release of IMM is faster than for EtBr. During the first stage, for IMM the release is governed by osmotic pressure whereas for EtBr the release is mainly diffusion-controlled. The in vitro release of these drugs is governed by polymer matrix degradation at the later stage of the release process. Comparative in vitro release study from the different polymers showed that the release depends mainly on the physical properties of the polymer. The in vivo experiments carried out in the field on cattle and in the laboratory on rabbits using the classical treatment (intramuscular injection) and the sustained release devices (SRD) subcutaneously implanted, showed that the prophylactic period is significantly enhanced in the case of SRD as compared to intramuscular injection. The comparative efficacy of SRD containing IMM and EtBr evaluated in the case of rabbits showed that, the SRD (IMM) prophylactic period is much longer than for SRD (EtBr).

[Vectorial competence of Glossina palpalis palpalis, Glossina p. gambiensis and Glossina morsitans morsitans flies for a clone of Trypanosoma (Nannomonas) congolense IL 1180]

The authors report on the results of experimental infections of teneral (age < 32 hours) and non-teneral (age between 80 and 96 hours) Glossina palpalis palpalis, G. p. gambiensis and G. morsitans morsitans with Trypanosoma congolense IL 1180. Flies were infected once on a parasitaemic rat. Teneral flies, both sexes indiscriminate, showed a procyclic and metacyclic infection rate respectively of 0.0588 and 0.7272 for G. p. palpalis; 0.0525 and 0.0416 for G. p. gambiensis; 0.6493 and 0.7300 for G. m. morsitans. Neither of the non-teneral G. palpalis subspecies had any vectorial competence, whereas G. m. morsitans had procyclic and metacyclic infection rates of 0.4541 and 0.7884. Statistical analysis could not demonstrate any significant difference in metacyclic infection rate between teneral and non-teneral G. m. morsitans. Teneral flies of each subspecies transmitted the infection to rats, used as hosts, before the twentieth day. Concerning trypanosome development in the fly, it was observed that five days after infection procyclic and mesocyclic forms could be observed simultaneously in all flies dissected at that moment.

Prophylactic effects of isometamidium- and ethidium-sustained release devices against Trypanosoma congolense in cattle

Two successive experiments were carried out in which three cows were treated by intramuscular injection of either 0.5 mg/kg isometamidium or 1 mg/kg ethidium and compared with another group of three cows which received a subcutaneously implanted sustained release device (SRD) containing the same dose of drug. The prophylactic effect of both drug formulations was evaluated by exposing the animals at monthly intervals to Glossina morsitans morsitans infected with Trypanosoma congolense. The average protection period using the isometamidium- and the ethidium-SRD was extended by a factor of 3.2 and 2.8, respectively in comparison with the intramuscular injection of the drugs. In the analysis of isometamidium concentrations in the serum of the animals using a competitive drug-ELISA the drugs remained present for much longer periods in the sera of the implanted animals than in those of the intramuscularly treated cattle. The animals were still protected, however, a long time after the disappearance of detectable drug levels in the serum. No difference in drug sensitivity could be observed, when breakthrough isolates were compared from animals which received the ethidium-SRD and those treated intramuscularly, although a slight loss sensitivity occurred in the breakthrough isolates as compared to the parent trypanosome population.

Effect of the life-span of female Glossina palpalis gambiensis on the weight and size of its progeny

Pupae and teneral flies of Glossina palpalis gambiensis originating from three successive reproductive cycles were compared for their size and weight. In general, pupal weight and fly weight increased, whereas fly size, measured as wing vein length, decreased with the number of reproductive cycles. The linear regression observed between weight and wing vein length of the fly demonstrated that, particularly for flies originating from the first and second larvipositions, small changes in wing vein length reflected substantial differences in weight. The results of these laboratory experiments were compared with some field data on Glossina morsitans from Zambia and related literature. The life span of the female tsetse, affecting the size of her progeny, could clarify partially some of the field observed seasonal changes in size, whereas the correlation between fly size and weight could eventually explain the differential mortality of some size classes of tsetse flies. However, whether these laboratory observations can be extrapolated to the field has still to be confirmed.

Duration of protective immunity in experimental canine babesiosis after homologous and heterologous challenge

Three Beagle dogs were monitored clinically and serologically for 55 weeks following an experimental primo-infection and two challenge infections with a heterologous strain of Babesia canis. There was no cross-protection when dogs were challenged with the heterologous strain after 7 months, but there was complete protection when challenged a second time with this heterologous strain 5 months later. Although the serological profile using indirect immunofluorescence showed the same trend whether homologous or heterologus antigen was used, antibody titres generally reached higher values for homologous antigen. Seropositivity in itself was no guarantee for protective immunity against heterologous challenge.

Prophylactic treatment of experimental canine babesiosis (Babesia canis) with doxycycline

Doxycycline provided satisfactory prophylaxis against experimental infection with a highly pathogenic strain of Babesia canis. Rectal temperature, parasitaemia, packed cell volume and serology were monitored for evaluation of the prophylactic effect. Although a daily dose of 5 mg kg-1 of doxycycline did not completely prevent clinical disease, symptoms remained moderate and a full recovery was obtained within 1 week. At a dose of 20 mg kg-1 day-1 no clinical symptoms were observed, but asymptomatic infection could not be ruled out.

Comparative evaluation of the prophylactic effect of slow release devices containing homidium bromide and isometamidium on Trypanosoma congolense in rabbits

Two consecutive experiments were carried out to evaluate the prophylactic effect of biodegradable slow release devices (SRD), containing either isometamidium or homidium bromide. Rabbits subcutaneously implanted with SRD, were challenged with different Trypanosoma congolense stocks at regular intervals between 1 and 6.5 months after treatment. In a first experiment the efficacy of two types of isometamidium-SRD (poly(D,L-lactide) and poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide)) was compared with the classical intramuscular (i.m.) injection of the drug. Since the former polymer gave an average protection period, which was much longer than the other isometamidium formulation, a second experiment was carried out to evaluate the prophylactic effect of poly(D,L-lactide) SRD, containing either isometamidium or homidium bromide, with that of the i.m. injections of the same drugs at a dose of 1 mg kg-1. The average protection period of the homidium bromide SRD was significantly longer than that of the i.m. injected drug (112 vs. 49 days). No significant difference was obtained, however, when isometamidium was administered either as a SRD or as an i.m. injection. The average protection periods were, respectively, 106 +/- 37 days and 84 +/- 18 days. When breakthrough isolates derived from SRD-treated animals were compared with the original stocks of T. congolense, the former showed some loss of sensitivity to homidium bromide. No difference in sensitivity was observed, however, for isometamidium.

Prophylactic activity of imidocarb against experimental infection with Babesia canis

A single subcutaneous injection of imidocarb at 6 mg kg-1 gave 2 weeks protection against experimental inoculation of Babesia canis merozoites in Beagle dogs. The prophylactic effect was evaluated by daily measurements of parasitaemia, rectal temperature, haematological values and specific antibodies.

Clinical and serological observations on experimental infections with Babesia canis and its diagnosis using the IFAT

Naive Beagle dogs (n = 5) were experimentally inoculated with two stocks of Babesia canis. Dogs were examined regularly for parasitaemia and for antibodies, using the indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT). This test proved to be useful for the diagnosis of babesiosis. After primo-infection dogs seem to develop a certain degree of immunity, although this immunity is neither absolute nor of long duration. Treatment of infected dogs with imidocarb (6 mg/kg) cleared the infection, but did not prevent the production of IFAT-antibodies. An infected dog treated with long acting oxytetracycline (20 mg/kg) became a subclinical, chronic carrier of the disease.

Failure of experimental infection of baboons (Papio hamadryas) with the eggs of Asian Taenia

The infectivity of the eggs of Asian Taenia sp. for humans is not known. Using baboons (Papio hamadryas) as a model to extrapolate the findings, three animals were exposed per os with 1000, 10,000 and 50,000 infective eggs of the Asian Taenia sp. The serological, biochemical, haematological and parasitological (based on necropsy) results show that baboons are refractory to the infection. It is concluded that the Asian taeniid eggs may fail to develop in man.

Influence of priming and inoculation dose on the production of monoclonal antibodies in two age groups of BALB/c mice

An experiment was set up to assess the influence of some parameters on the production of ascites and monoclonal antibodies against circulating excretory-secretory antigens of Taenia saginata cysticerci in mice. The following parameters were examined: time lapse between priming and the inoculation of hybridoma cells, age and body weight of the mice at the time of inoculation, number of cells injected IP, and the resulting antibody titers of the ascites. In this experiment the method used to prime the mice was the only factor having an influence on the amount of ascites produced. Injection of a higher number of hybridoma cells (2-4 x 10(6) cells) coincided with higher antibody titers and resulted in an earlier ascites production. The antibody titer of the ascites was increasing with time.