Epizootiological importance of Glossina morsitans submorsitans (Diptera: Glossinidae) (Newstead) in the Ghibe River Valley, Southwest Ethiopia

The epizootiological importance of Glossina morsitans submorsitans in Ghibe River Valley was undertaken from October 2000 to September 2001. The flies were collected using baited monoconical traps. G. m. submorsitans occurred with a mean apparent density of 4.26 ± 0.49 flies/trap/day and the apparent density was characterized by an increase during the wet season and a decrease during the dry season. Among 450 G. m. submorsitans, approximately 5% were found to be infected with trypanosome. Of these infected flies, 76% were female. Nanomonas, Duttonella and Trypanozoon were the three trypanosome subgenera detected and occurred in the proportions of 57.1%, 38.1% and 4.8%, respectively. Among 139 blood meals of G. m. submorsitans collected, 54.68% were identified to group or species levels. Accordingly, 36.84%, 25%, 11.84% and 10.53% accounted for cattle, kudu, suidae (warthog and/or wild pig) and human, respectively and others such as goats (6.58%), bovidae (5.26%), baboon (2.63%) and water buck (1.32%). While 21.05% of the blood meals were found to be out of detection range.