Trypanosomes Infection in Field-Captured Tsetse Flies of the Subgenus: Nemorhina In Southern Guinea Savanna Zone of Nigeria

An investigation aimed at assessing the Trypanosomes infection in the Palpalis group was conducted between January and December of 2007 at Kamuku National Park, using Biconical and Nitse traps. Flies were trapped along riverine vegetation for two trapping days each month and were harvested daily. Out of 213 tsetse flies examined, 14 (6.6%) were infected with trypanosome. Infection rate in G. tachinoides 9.4% (11) out of 117 were statistically (p<0.05) higher than G. Palpalis 3.1% (3) out of 96 flies examined. Also, infection rate were higher in males 5.2% (11) than females 1.4% (3). Infection due to Trypanosoma vivax 5.2% (11) dominated, followed by T. congolense 0.9% (2) then T. brucei 0.5% (1). The Mean Hunger Stages of 3.5 and 3.6 for G. tachinoides and G. palpalis respectively indicated a hungry population. Infections were highest in the month of May. The presence of Tsetse and Trypanosome infection in the park may pose public health risk.