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Mortality in adult tsetse, Glossina morsitans morsitans, caused by entomopathogenic bacteria

G P Kaaya, N Darji

    Journal of Invertebrate Pathology
    |July 1, 1989
    PubMed

    Insights

    Certain bacteria significantly increase mortality in tsetse flies (Glossina morsitans morsitans), particularly at higher doses. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Serratia marcescens were most effective in reducing tsetse fly populations.

    Area of Science:

    • Veterinary Entomology
    • Insect Pathology
    • Microbiology

    Background:

    • Tsetse flies (Glossina morsitans morsitans) transmit devastating trypanosome diseases.
    • Understanding pathogens that affect tsetse fly survival is crucial for disease control strategies.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To determine the mortality rates of adult tsetse flies when exposed to various bacterial species.
    • To evaluate the impact of bacterial dose and feeding frequency on tsetse fly mortality.

    Main Methods:

    • Bacterial suspensions of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia marcescens, Bacillus sphaericus, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus thuringiensis strains, and Providentia rettgeri were prepared.
    • Tsetse flies were exposed to bacteria via direct skin smear or artificial membrane feeding experiments.
    • Mortality was recorded at 8 days post-ingestion and analyzed for statistical significance.

    Main Results:

    • Direct skin smear feeding resulted in significant mortality for P. aeruginosa, S. marcescens, B. thuringiensis 1, and P. rettgeri, especially with repeated feeding.
    • Artificial membrane feeding showed B. thuringiensis H-14 caused 59% mortality at 10(6) bacteria/ml.
    • At 10(6) bacteria/ml, P. aeruginosa, S. marcescens, B. cereus, and P. rettgeri caused 64-96% mortality.
    • At 10(7) bacteria/ml, all tested bacteria except B. sphaericus caused 70-98% mortality.

    Conclusions:

    • Bacterial species, ingested dose, and time post-ingestion are critical factors influencing tsetse fly mortality.
    • Certain Gram-negative bacteria (P. aeruginosa, S. marcescens, P. rettgeri) and B. thuringiensis H-14 show potential as agents for tsetse fly control.
    • Further research into optimizing delivery methods and understanding mechanisms of pathogenicity is warranted.

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