Zebra skin odor repels the savannah tsetse fly, Glossina pallidipes (Diptera: Glossinidae).

ABSTRACT:

Background

African trypanosomosis, primarily transmitted by tsetse flies, remains a serious public health and economic challenge in sub-Saharan Africa. Interventions employing natural repellents from non-preferred hosts of tsetse flies represent a promising management approach. Although zebras have been identified as non-preferred hosts of tsetse flies, the basis for this repellency is poorly understood. We hypothesized that zebra skin odors contribute to their avoidance by tsetse flies.

Methodology/principal findings

We evaluated the effect of crude zebra skin odors on catches of wild savannah tsetse flies (Glossina pallidipes Austen, 1903) using unbaited Ngu traps compared to the traps baited with two known tsetse fly management chemicals; a repellent blend derived from wa

SUBMITTER: Olaide OY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6586361 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature