Tsetse fly distribution in agropastoral areas of Yérémo in Central African Republic

Abstract

The number of Mbororo zebu cattle in Central African Republic has considerably increased the last few years (2,200,000 heads) due to various factors such as new pastoral potentialities. With a view to improving the management of these herds and spaces, agropastoral activity areas (ZAGROP) were created. In compensation with the forage potentialities, the rearing of livestock in humid areas is subject to enhanced pathological constraints mainly caused by trypanosomosis. To prevent problems related to the present massive use of trypanocidal drugs by the cattle owners, the National Agency for Development of Livestock Production (ANDE) has started to identify the control methods applied against tsetse flies. In one of these agro-pastoral areas (60,000 ha), the first step was to establish an accurate map of vector species distribution using a systematic trapping method. Glossina fuscipes fuscipes (10,805 trapped tsetse flies) was found throughout the whole hydrographic system with a low to moderate density (3 tsetse flies/trap/day). Glossina fusca congolensis was seldom caught (7 trapped individuals) and Glossina morsitans submorsitans, which was formerly present, seemed to have disappeared. Data on species abundance, diversity and distribution are discussed. They are used as a basis for choosing a control method by trapping, presently set up in this pastoral area.