Use of suckling mice for the detection of tsetse flies with mature trypanosome infections

Abstract

To detect infective tsetse flies hosts of metacyclic trypanosomes, flies presumely infected with trypanosomes were individually fed on suckling mice three times consecutively (one fly per mouse). The blood of the mice was microscopically examined later in order to detect corresponding infective flies. This « inverse xenodiagnosis » is suitable and easy for the rapid detection of infective flies and for the constitution of glossine stocks for experimental purposes. In contrast it can only be used for species or strains of trypanosomes that are infective to mice. The results also emphasize that an infective fly remains dangerous throughout its life as it transmits the parasite continuously.