Trypanosomal Infection Rates in Glossina pallidipes in Bilbo village, Kamba District, Southern Ethiopia

This study was a cross-sectional study conducted at Bilbo village in Kamba district, Southwestern Ethiopia, from November 2018 to April 2019 with the aim of determining the infection rate of trypanosomes in Glossina pallidipes. A total of 384 Glossina pallidipes were captured using acetone and animal urine-baited NGU bi-conical and sticky traps. Their organs (proboscis, salivary gland, and midgut) were dissected and microscopically examined. About 53.39% of Glossina pallidipes were captured through NGU, and the remaining 29.17% and 17.45% were captured via bi-conical and sticky traps, respectively. Out of the dissected specimens, 131 (34.1%) Glossina pallidipes were found positive for trypanosomes. Of this, 109 (28.38%) and 22 (5.73%) were female and male tsetse flies, respectively. The highest proportion of the tsetse fly (19.27%) was infected by T. vivax, followed by T. congolense, and T. brucei. There was a statistically significant difference in trypanosome infection rate among the sex (P = 0.001) and age (P = 0.0024) categories of Glossina pallidipes. The presence of Glossina pallidipes positive for trypanosomes might have contributed to bovine trypanosomosis in the study area. Hence, further studies should be undertaken in order to categorically prioritize the control of tsetse flies in the study area. Keywords: Glossina pallidipes, T. brucei, T. congolense, T. vivax, traps, trypanosome infection rate