Tsetse-equid chemical ecology

Tsetse flies are the primary vectors of the trypanosome parasite, which causes Animal African trypanosomiasis (AAT- nagana) and Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT- sleeping sickness). The presence of tsetse flies and the disease they transmit have been a long-term challenge for 37 sub-Saharan African countries, resulting in an annual loss of over USD 4.5 billion to the continents’ economy. Interventions employing natural repellents from non-hosts of the vector (tsetse flies) represent a promising sustainable approach in the management of the disease. Applying a range of chemical ecology techniques including gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), gas chromatography-electroantennographic detection (GC/EAD) and field behavioral studies, this project aims to contribute to the existing tool box for the management of tsetse flies with candidate repellents from less preferred hosts, e.g zebra.