Scientists have been able for the first time to identify a factor that plays an important role in the reproduction of the “tsetse” fly, which causes human African trypanosomiasis, known as “sleeping sickness”.
Scientists have identified a type of sexual pheromones that play a role in the reproduction of the “tsetse” fly, in a discovery that could help combat this insect that transmits deadly diseases in sub-Saharan Africa.
John Carlson, a professor of biology at Yale University, who co-authored the study published Thursday in the journal Science, told AFP that this discovery could be “used to improve the effectiveness of traps designed to capture tsetse flies.” That tests in this regard will be conducted in Kenya.
What is sleeping sickness?
- Tsetse flies, found only in sub-Saharan Africa, transmit human African trypanosomiasis, commonly known as sleeping sickness, a disease of humans and livestock (nagana).
- These flies pose a threat to millions of people in dozens of countries, and cause the death of about three million heads of livestock every year, according to an article published by “Science” in conjunction with and commenting on the study.
- There have been concerns about the expansion of the geographical area for the presence of these flies due to climate change, according to the study.
- Although research has been conducted for more than a century on tsetse flies, their chemical communication is still shrouded in mystery, and scientists have never been able to identify their volatile pheromones.
“a chemical substance secreted by an animal that has an effect on the behavior of animals of the same species, and that allows insects to recognize each other in an environment in which thousands of other species may be living.”
What are pheromones?
- In their research, scientists put tsetse flies for 24 hours in a solvent solution, and applied this solvent to baits in the form of flies.
- It was found that male flies were only attracted to the baits to which the solvent was applied to female flies.
- After several tests, it was found that one of the chemical compounds acts as an aphrodisiac, detected by the antennae of males, which leads to the activation of their olfactory neurons.
- “It’s not just bait, but it makes the fly stop moving,” Carlson explained, which helps keep them in the traps, predicting that “the pheromones will improve the efficiency of the trap.”
- Traps were originally a technique for reducing tsetse fly numbers, but now they use animal scents to attract them.