High levels of genetic differentiation between Ugandan Glossina fuscipes fuscipes populations separated by Lake Kyoga.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Glossina fuscipes fuscipes is the major vector of human African trypanosomiasis, commonly referred to as sleeping sickness, in Uganda. In western and eastern Africa, the disease has distinct clinical manifestations and is caused by two different parasites: Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense and T. b. gambiense. Uganda is exceptional in that it harbors both parasites, which are separated by a narrow 160-km belt. This separation is puzzling considering there are no restrictions on the movement of people and animals across this region.

Methodology and results

We investigated whether genetic heterogeneity of G. f. fuscipes vector populations can provide an explanation for this disjunct distribution of the Trypanosoma parasites. Therefore, we examined genetic structuring o

SUBMITTER: Abila PP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2386243 | biostudies-literature | 2008 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature