Project name: Glossina morsitans

Description: Tsetse flies (Diptera:Glossinidae) are members of a single genus, Glossina, and are the sole vectors of pathogenic trypanosomes which cause Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) and nagana or Animal African Trypanosomiasis (AAT) in livestock in sub-Saharan Africa. HAT, also known as sleeping sickness, is a chronic, slow wasting disease that ultimately causes death if untreated. HAT is responsible for a loss of 1.35 million DALYs and mortality related to HAT is ranked ninth out of 25 among the human infectious and parasitic diseases in Africa.AAT causes approximately 3 million cattle deaths per year and farmers administer about 35 million doses of trypanocidal drugs at a cost of US$ 1-1.2 billion, resulting in total agricultural losses estimated at US$ 4.75 billion per year. Despite considerable research into trypanosomes, the toolbox for disease control is limited with neither vaccines nor effective and affordable drugs available in the near future. The African Union has made removal of trypanosomiasis via tsetse control a key priority for the continent. The Glossina moristans moristans genome is significant for controlling HAT and AAT through a greater understanding of vectorial capacity, development of enhanced or new vector control tools, and improved application strategies.

Last updated: 2003-11-12