Journal of Medical Entomology (2009) 46, 1446-1449

K. Akoda, P. Van Den Bossche, E.A. Lyaruu, R. De Deken, T. Marcotty, M. Coosemans and J. Van Den Abbeele (2009)
Maturation of a Trypanosoma brucei infection to the infectious metacyclic stage is enhanced in nutritionally stressed tsetse flies
Journal of Medical Entomology 46 (6), 1446-1449
Abstract: We report on the effect of tsetse fly starvation on the maturation of an established Trypanosoma brucei brucei midgut infection, i.e., the development of procyclic infection into the infectious metacyclic parasites in the tsetse fly salivary glands. Glossina morsitans morsitans flies were nutritionally stressed 10 d after the uptake of a T. b. brucei-infected bloodmeal by depriving these flies from feeding for seven consecutive days, whereas the control fly group (nonstarved group) continued to be fed three times a week. After this period, both fly groups were again fed three times per week on uninfected rabbit. Thirty days after the infected bloodmeal, all surviving flies were dissected and examined for the presence of an immature midgut and a mature salivary gland trypanosome infections. Results showed a significantly increased proportion of flies with salivary gland infection in the nutritionally stressed fly group suggesting an enhanced maturation of the trypanosome infection. These data suggest that environmental factors that cause nutritional stress in a tsetse population do not only make tsetse flies significantly more susceptible to establish a midgut infection as was shown previously but also boost the maturation of these midgut infections.
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Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Jan Van Den Abbeele, Peter van den Bossche, Reginald De Deken, Marc Coosemans

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Glossina morsitans