Control of Glossina fuscipes fuscipes by trapping in the Mbororo stockbreeders in the Central African Republic

Abstract

The well-known moving of Mbororo stockbreeders from the West to the East is increasing as affected by various factors including drought and it pushes them to settling further and more durably within the humid infested tsetse area. In order to reduce the important use of trypanocid and trypanopreventive drugs in a new agropastoral area in CAR, a trial of Glossina fuscipes fuscipes control was undertaken by local trapping with about 2 non insecticide impregnated biconal traps at each watering place (2 traps/place/settlement) in 32 settlements of stockbreeders, sedentary during the rainy season and more or less transhumant during the dry season. Each cattle owner collected the caugth tsetse flies and looked after the good condition of the traps. The reduction of apparent density was strong after one month and in general above 90 % after 2 months. It was faster and more homogeneous in the dry than in the rainy season. In this trial, the stockbreeders managed their traps well and were motivated for using this simple control technique. The problem of its application in a semi-sedentary environment is discussed. The formation and training already given to cattleowners will be intensified with various means (e.g. technical cards, audiovisual technique, cattleowners training courses...). The organization of the cattleowners  in “federations” and in “pools of pastoral interest” should be in favour of the integration of these control tools in the “fundamental animal health care”. The purchase of traps should replace the increasing purchase of trypanocid and trypanopreventive drugs.