Monitoring the susceptibility of Glossina palpalis gambiensis and G. morsitans morsitans to experimental infection with savannah-type Trypanosoma congolense, using the polymerase chain reaction

Abstract

Teneral Glossina palpalis gambiensis and G. morsitans morsitans (Diptera: Glossinidae) were fed on mice infected with savannah-type Trypanosoma (Nannomonas) congolense. The infection was monitored by checking the post-feeding diuresis fluid (midgut infection) and saliva (mature infection) of individual flies for parasites, at different times post-infection, using microscopical examination and a PCR-based assay. The results indicated that both tsetse species supported established midgut infections by 10 days post-infection and that maturation occurred after 24 days in G. m. morsitans. Although, for both diuresis fluid and saliva, the results of the microscopy showed good concordance with those of the PCR, the PCR identified more positive samples. Monitoring allowed determination of the status of the infection in individual flies, which was confirmed, 48 days post-infection, by the microscopical examination of the midguts and probosces dissected out of the flies and by the PCR-based amplification of any trypanosome DNA in these organs. Again, in terms of the detection of trypanosomes in the dissected organs, there was good concordance between the results of the PCR and those of the microscopy, although PCR revealed many more mature infections than did microscopical examination, particularly in the G. p. gambiensis investigated.

There was a higher prevalence of immature infection in G. p. gambiensis than in G. m. morsitans (P < 0.05) but the inter-specific differences seen in the prevalences of any infection and of mature infection were not statistically significant. The intrinsic vectorial capacity for T. congolense of both tsetse species therefore appeared quite similar, although the true vectorial competence of G. p. gambiensis remains to be determined.