Assessment of blackfly (Diptera : Simuliidae) problem status and potential biological control agents along the Vaal and Orange Rivers in South Africa

Blackflies (Diptera: Simuliidae) are major pests in the livestock and labour-intensive farming systems along the major rivers in South Africa. At present, blackflies are controlled with the larvicide Bacillus thuringienses var. israelensis (B.t.i.). As part of establishing an environmentally friendly and cost-effective Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program against blackflies, investigations were initiated to support the present blackfly-control strategy in South Africa. Emphasis was placed on potential predators and parasites of the blackflies’ aquatic stages. Questionnaires were presented to livestock farmers along the Vaal and Orange Rivers to determine public views concerning blackfly annoyance. Furthermore, blackfly populations at thirteen sites along the Orange River, twelve along the Vaal River and one site along each of two tributaries to the Vaal River, namely the Riet and Harts Rivers, were monitored seasonally for one year. The abundance of the aquatic stages of blackflies and potential predators on stones and vegetation in the river was determined using the 10-point visual ranking system of Palmer (1994) and the South African Scoring system (SASS 5), respectively. The abundance of algae as well as other environmental factors, namely water flow, water temperature and turbidity, were also monitored. Farmers who were contacted along both the Vaal and Orange rivers indicated that they experience severe blackfly problems during the summer months and that the majority of farmers were not aware of any products available that could protect their animals against blackfly attacks. The farmers also indicated that they were willing to be involved in blackfly research to improve this situation. Blackfly larvae and pupae were found in high abundance in both the Vaal and Orange Rivers. Simulium chutteri was the most abundant species in the Orange River and S. adersi in the Vaal River. In both the Vaal and Orange Rivers there was no significant correlation between immature blackfly abundance and water flow and turbidity. Water temperature also played a role in the seasonal build-up of blackflies in the winter months. The three most abundant algae classes were Bacillariophyceae, Chlorophyceae and Cyanophyceae. Cyanophyceae was the only algae group that had a negative correlation with blackfly immature abundance in the Orange River; this was not statistically significant. There were no negative correlations in the Vaal River. In both the Vaal and Orange rivers, blackflies were infected with Mermithidae nematodes and Microspora protozoans. In the Vaal River, the infection prevalence in natural conditions was the highest for Microspora and in the Orange River the highest for Mermithidae. The most important families of blackfly predators identified were Hydropsychidae and Gyrinidae. Hydropsychidae was the only family recorded in high abundance but this predator had no effect on abundance of immature blackfly. Gyrinidae gave a negative correlation with immature blackfly abundance; however, this was not significant. The biological control agents identified in this research need to be evaluated further for use in an IPM approach with the current control system, B.t.i. CopyrightDissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2008.Veterinary Tropical Diseasesunrestricte

Survey of blackfly (Diptera : Simuliidae) annoyance levels and abundance along the Vaal and Orange Rivers, South Africa

Blackflies (Diptera: Simuliidae) are pests in the livestock and labour-intensive farming systems along the major rivers in South Africa. Since 1995, blackflies have been controlled in the Orange River with the larvicide Bacillus thuringienses var. israelensis (Bti). During 2006–2007, the views of livestock farmers concerning blackfly annoyance were determined by means of questionnaires. The results of the questionnaires were substantiated by seasonal abundance surveys of the sub-adult stages of blackflies, conducted in 2007 at 13 sites in the Orange River and 11 sites in the Vaal River. More than half (52%) of the 39 participating farmers along the Orange River and 79% of the 52 participating farmers along the Vaal River stated that they experienced severe blackfly problems. The majority of farmers were unaware of the availability of products that could be used to protect their animals against blackfly attacks and were willing to be involved in blackfly research. High numbers of blackfly sub-adult stages found in both rivers supported the high annoyance levels reported by the respondents. Simulium chutteri, Simulium damnosum s.l., Simulium hargreavesi, Simulium adersi and Simulium alcocki were identified at Christiana and Delportshoop on the Vaal River, whilst S. chutteri, S. damnosum s.l., S. adersi, S. alcocki and Simulium gariepense were identified at Marksdrift and Ses Bridge on the Orange River. Despite the extensive control of blackflies, farmers still experience problems and this contention is supported by surveys conducted along the rivers.C.J.d.B. (Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute) wrote the manuscript as fulfilment for an MSc degree within the Department of Veterinary Tropical Diseases at the University of Pretoria, for which K.K.G. (University of Pretoria) was the study supervisor.The Agricultural Research Council – Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute (ARC – OVI) and the Department of Agriculture (Directorate of Land Use and Soil Management).http://www.jsava.co.zahttp://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-07302009-154218/ab201

Evaluation of light emitting diode suction traps for the collection of livestock-associated Culicoides species in South Africa

Risk analysis of pathogens transmitted by Culicoides (Diptera; Ceratopogonidae) depends on the ability to detect all potential vectors attacking livestock in an area. Onderstepoort 220-V ultraviolet (UV) down-draught light traps are considered the gold standard for this purpose. To improve the flexibility of this trap in the field, in the absence of 220-V power, the possibility of using low-energy light emitting diodes (LEDs) was assessed. The efficiency of a standard 220-V Onderstepoort trap (30 cm 8 W fluorescent UV light tube) was compared to that of 220-V Onderstepoort traps fitted with either two, four or eight individual white LEDs. The Onderstepoort 220-V trap was also compared to a 12-V Onderstepoort trap fitted with an 8 W fluorescent UV light tube, a 12-V Onderstepoort trap with 12 individual white LEDs and 12-V and 220-V Onderstepoort traps fitted with 12 individual UV LEDs. Higher numbers of Culicoides as well as species diversity were collected with a brighter light source. The use of UV LEDs in both the 12-V and 220-V combinations was comparable to the Onderstepoort 220-V light trap with ration to species diversity collected. The Onderstepoort 220-V light trap is recommended if large numbers of Culicoides need to be collected.The Agricultural Research Council—Onderstepoort Veterinary Research, The South African Department of Science and Technology and the National Research Foundation of South Africa.https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/13652915hj2022Veterinary Tropical Disease

Improving the diet for the rearing of Glossina brevipalpis Newstead and Glossina austeni Newstead : blood source and collection - processing - feeding procedures

One of the challenges to maintain tsetse fly (Diptera: Glossinidae) colonies is the sustainable supply of high quality blood meals. The effect of using anticoagulants during collection of the blood, the addition of phagostimulants to the blood meals as well as using mixtures of bovine and porcine blood in different proportions for feeding on colony productivity was assessed. Defibrinated bovine blood was found to be suitable to maintain both the Glossina brevipalpis Newstead and Glossina austeni Newstead colonies. Blood collected with the anticoagulants sodium citrate, citric sodium combination, citrate phosphate dextrose adenine and citric acid did not affect colony performance of both species. Defibrinated bovine and porcine blood in a 1:1 ratio or the feeding of either bovine or porcine blood on alternating days improved pupae production of G. austeni and can be used to enhance colony growth. Bovine blood is appropriate to maintain G. brevipalpis colonies, however, feeding either bovine or porcine blood on alternating days did improve productivity. Adding the phagostimulants inosine tri-phosphate, cytosine mono-phosphate and guanosine mono-phosphate to the blood at a concentration of 10−4 M improved pupae production of the G. brevipalpis colony. The addition of adenosine tri-phosphate and inosine tri-phosphate improved the performance of the G. austeni colony. Decisions on the most suitable rearing diet and feeding protocols will not only depend on the biological requirements of the species but also on the continuous supply of a suitable blood source that can be collected and processed in a costeffective way.The National Assets (000773) at the Agricultural Research Council-Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute and the Joint Food and Agriculture Organization / International Atomic Energy Agency Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture under the coordinated research project (CRP) 12618/R0/RBF Department of Technical Cooperation of the International Atomic Energy Agency under project RAF 5069.http://www.plosone.orgam2017Veterinary Tropical Disease

Bovine trypanosomosis prevalence at the edge of Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

The northern KwaZulu-Natal (NKZN) region of South Africa is the southern limit of the African tsetse belt. Entomological information on Glossina brevipalpis and Glossina austeni was generated following the outbreak of trypanosomosis in cattle in 1990. However, these data have not been supported by parallel studies on epidemiology of the disease and therefore there has been no control policy in place. This study presented the first intensive investigations to address the epidemiology of trypanosomosis in NKZN. Tsetse abundance, trypanosome herd average prevalence (HAP), herd average anaemia (HAA) and herd average packed cell volume (HA-PCV) were investigated at three communal diptanks located at the edge of HluhluweiMfolozi Park by monthly sampling from June 2006 - November 2007. Seasonal trypanosome surveys were conducted at seven other communal diptanks. Glossina brevipalpis prevalence was high at two of the diptanks, Mvutshini and Ekuphindisweni, but low at Ocilwane, whilst G. austeni was only collected from Mvutshini. This high and low tsetse challenge presented different disease scenarios. Cattle at Mvutshini and Ekuphindisweni had the highest HAP of 12.3% and 8.9% respectively, both significantly different (p = 0.001) from the HAP obtained from cattle at Ocilwane (2.9%). These two cattle herds also had the highest HAA, 27.7% and 33.4% respectively, whilst cattle at Ocilwane had the lowest, 11.1% (p = 0.001). Conversely, cattle at Ocilwane had the highest HA-PCV, ranging between 29.0% and 32.0%, whilst cattle at Mvutshini and Ekuphindisweni had the lowest HA-PCV (24.0% - 29.0%). By combining the data from the three diptanks (1318 observations), 62.0% of the infected cattle were found anaemic, compared to 20.0% in the uninfected group. Trypanosome seasonal surveys showed that cattle at all the seven diptanks were infected with trypanosomes; mean HAP, HAA and HA-PCV of 10.2%, 46.6% and 23.7%, respectively. This study generated information on the epidemiological factors related to the wide spread of trypanosome-infected cattle and tsetse flies. Trypanosomosis is a disease of economic importance impacting the livelihood of resource-poor farmers in NKZN.http://www.ojvr.orgtm201

An update of the tsetse fly (Diptera: Glossinidae) distribution and African animal trypanosomosis prevalence in north-eastern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

An unpredicted outbreak of African animal trypanosomosis or nagana in 1990 in north-eastern KwaZulu-Natal necessitated an emergency control programme, utilising the extensive cattledipping system in the area, as well as a reassessment of the tsetse and trypanosomosis problem in the province. Since 1990, sporadic blood sampling of cattle at the dip tanks in the naganainfested areas were undertaken to identify trypanosome species involved and to determine the infection prevalence in cattle. The distribution and species composition of the tsetse populations in the area were also investigated. From November 2005 to November 2007 selected dip tanks were surveyed for trypanosome infection prevalence. During April 2005 to August 2009 the distribution and abundance of tsetse populations were assessed with odour-baited H traps. The tsetse and trypanosome distribution maps were updated and potential correlations between tsetse apparent densities (ADs) and the prevalence of trypanosomosis were assessed. Glossina brevipalpis Newstead and Glossina austeni Newstead were recorded in locations where they have not previously been collected. No significant correlation between tsetse relative abundance and nagana prevalence was found, which indicated complex interactions between tsetse fly presence and disease prevalence. This was epitomised by data that indicated that despite large differences in the ADs of G. austeni and G. brevipalpis, trypanosome infection prevalence was similar in all three districts in the area. This study clearly indicated that both tsetse species play significant roles in trypanosome transmission and that it will be essential that any control strategy, which aims at sustainable management of the disease, should target both species

Evaluation of radiation sensitivity and mating performance of Glossina brevipalpis males

BACKGROUND : Area-wide integrated pest management strategies that include a sterile insect technique component have been successfully used to eradicate tsetse fly populations in the past. To ensure the success of the sterile insect technique, the released males must be adequately sterile and be able to compete with their native counterparts in the wild. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS : In the present study the radiation sensitivity of colonised Glossina brevipalpis Newstead (Diptera; Glossinidae) males, treated either as adults or pupae, was assessed. The mating performance of the irradiated G. brevipalpis males was assessed in walk-in field cages. Glossina brevipalpis adults and pupae were highly sensitive to irradiation, and a dose of 40 Gy and 80 Gy induced 93% and 99% sterility respectively in untreated females that mated with males irradiated as adults. When 37 to 41 day old pupae were exposed to a dose of 40 Gy, more than 97% sterility was induced in untreated females that mated with males derived from irradiated pupae. Males treated as adults with a dose up to 80 Gy were able to compete successfully with untreated fertile males for untreated females in walk-in field cages. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE : The data emanating from this field cage study indicates that, sterile male flies derived from the colony of G. brevipalpis maintained at the Agricultural Research Council-Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute in South Africa are potential good candidates for a campaign that includes a sterile insect technique component. This would need to be confirmed by open field studies.The Research was done in collaboration with the Joint Food and Agriculture Organization/ International Atomic Energy Agency Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture under the coordinated research project 17753/R0.http://www.plosntds.orgam2017Veterinary Tropical Disease

Development and characterization of microsatellite markers for the tsetse species Glossina brevipalpis and preliminary population genetics analyses

Tsetse flies, the vectors of African trypanosomes are of key medical and economic importance and one of the constraints for the development of Africa. Tsetse fly control is one of the most effective and sustainable strategies used for controlling the disease. Knowledge about population structure and level of gene flow between neighbouring populations of the target vector is of high importance to develop appropriate strategies for implementing effective management programmes. Microsatellites are commonly used to identify population structure and assess dispersal of the target populations and have been developed for several tsetse species but were lacking for Glossina brevipalpis. In this study, we screened the genome of G. brevipalpis to search for suitable microsatellite markers and nine were found to be efficient enough to distinguish between different tsetse populations. The availability of these novel microsatellite loci will help to better understand the population biology of G. brevipalpis and to assess the level of gene flow between different populations. Such information will help with the development of appropriate strategies to implement the sterile insect technique (SIT) in the framework of an area-wide integrated pest management (AW-IPM) approach to manage tsetse populations and ultimately address the trypanosomoses problem in these targeted areas

A distribution model for Glossina brevipalpis and Glossina austeni in southern Mozambique, Eswatini and South Africa for enhanced area-wide integrated pest management approaches

BACKGROUND : Glossina austeni and Glossina brevipalpis (Diptera: Glossinidae) are the sole cyclical vectors of African trypanosomes in South Africa, Eswatini and southern Mozambique. These populations represent the southernmost distribution of tsetse flies on the African continent. Accurate knowledge of infested areas is a prerequisite to develop and implement efficient and cost-effective control strategies, and distribution models may reduce large-scale, extensive entomological surveys that are time consuming and expensive. The objective was to develop a MaxEnt species distribution model and habitat suitability maps for the southern tsetse belt of South Africa, Eswatini and southern Mozambique. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS : The present study used existing entomological survey data of G. austeni and G. brevipalpis to develop a MaxEnt species distribution model and habitat suitability maps. Distribution models and a checkerboard analysis indicated an overlapping presence of the two species and the most suitable habitat for both species were protected areas and the coastal strip in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa and Maputo Province, Mozambique. The predicted presence extents, to a small degree, into communal farming areas adjacent to the protected areas and coastline, especially in the Matutuíne District of Mozambique. The quality of the MaxEnt model was assessed using an independent data set and indicated good performance with high predictive power (AUC > 0.80 for both species). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE : The models indicated that cattle density, land surface temperature and protected areas, in relation with vegetation are the main factors contributing to the distribution of the two tsetse species in the area. Changes in the climate, agricultural practices and land-use have had a significant and rapid impact on tsetse abundance in the area. The model predicted low habitat suitability in the Gaza and Inhambane Provinces of Mozambique, i.e., the area north of the Matutuíne District. This might indicate that the southern tsetse population is isolated from the main tsetse belt in the north of Mozambique. The updated distribution models will be useful for planning tsetse and trypanosomosis interventions in the area.S1 Fig. Uncertainty grid for the habitat suitability index model for Glossina austeni and Glossina brevipalpis (https://dataverse.harvard.edu/dataset.xhtml?persistentId=doi:10. 7910/DVN/PA7U7L).The Joint Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)/ International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture and the IAEA’s Department of Technical Cooperation; the IAEA’s Department of Technical Cooperation; the Department of Science and Technology and the GeosAf project.http://www.plosntds.orgam2022Veterinary Tropical Disease

Prevalence of Trypanosoma and Sodalis in wild populations of tsetse flies and their impact on sterile insect technique programmes for tsetse eradication

The sterile insect technique (SIT) is an environment friendly and sustainable method to manage insect pests of economic importance through successive releases of sterile irradiated males of the targeted species to a defined area. A mating of a sterile male with a virgin wild female will result in no offspring, and ultimately lead to the suppression or eradication of the targeted population. Tsetse flies, vectors of African Trypanosoma, have a highly regulated and defined microbial fauna composed of three bacterial symbionts that may have a role to play in the establishment of Trypanosoma infections in the flies and hence, may influence the vectorial competence of the released sterile males. Sodalis bacteria seem to interact with Trypanosoma infection in tsetse flies. Field-caught tsetse flies of ten different taxa and from 15 countries were screened using PCR to detect the presence of Sodalis and Trypanosoma species and analyse their interaction. The results indicate that the prevalence of Sodalis and Trypanosoma varied with country and tsetse species. Trypanosome prevalence was higher in east, central and southern African countries than in west African countries. Tsetse fly infection rates with Trypanosoma vivax and T. brucei sspp were higher in west African countries, whereas tsetse infection with T. congolense and T. simiae, T. simiae (tsavo) and T. godfreyi were higher in east, central and south African countries. Sodalis prevalence was high in Glossina morsitans morsitans and G. pallidipes but absent in G. tachinoides. Double and triple infections with Trypanosoma taxa and coinfection of Sodalis and Trypanosoma were rarely observed but it occurs in some taxa and locations. A significant Chi square value (< 0.05) seems to suggest that Sodalis and Trypanosoma infection correlate in G. palpalis gambiensis, G. pallidipes and G. medicorum. Trypanosoma infection seemed significantly associated with an increased density of Sodalis in wild G. m. morsitans and G. pallidipes flies, however, there was no significant impact of Sodalis infection on trypanosome density.The Joint FAO/IAEA Insect Pest Control Subprogramme.https://www.nature.com/srepVeterinary Tropical Disease