Diversity and spatial distribution of vectors and hosts of T. brucei gambiense in forest zones of, Southern Cameroon: Epidemiological implications

Host and vector distribution of Trypanosoma brucei gambiense was studied in relation to habitat types and seasons. Six (19.35%) of the 31 mammal species recorded in Bipindi were reservoir hosts. Cercopithecus nictitans was confined to the undisturbed forest and the low intensive shifting cultivation zones, while Cephalophus monticola, Cephalophus dorsalis, Cricetomys gambianus, Atherurus africanus and Nandinia binotata occurred in all the habitat types. As for vectors of human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), Glossina palpalis palpalis, was the most abundant (99.13%) among tsetse fly species. It occurs in all biotopes with its highest density recorded in the village-adjacent forest. The village-adjacent forest is therefore the most risky transmission zone for HAT mainly during the short rainy season when G. palpalis palpalis’ density is highest (2.91); while, the high and low intensive shifting cultivation zones are the most important contact zones between humans, G. palpalis palpalis and wild mammals in all seasons.