Trypanosomiasis 'risk' or 'challenge': a review

Definitions of the term 'challenge' as applied to the African trypanosomiases are reviewed. Data from one West and one East African site show simple linear relationships between the incidence of trypanosomiasis in both humans and animals, and either the amount of man-tsetse contact, or the Apparent Density of flies. Data from a number of East African sites are analysed and show a linear relationship between the mean Berenil Index of cattle and the logarithm of the challenge, where challenge is the simple product of Apparent Density and mean fly infection rate. Apparent Density is a more variable element of total challenge than is infection rate. The results of field studies are analysed to show that Berenil has a short prophylactic effect, lasting for about 22 days in cattle. When allowance is made for this effect there is a direct, apparently linear relationship between the daily probability of infection of cattle and total challenge, the latter varying over almost three orders of magnitude. Variations in tsetse fly density account for about 50% of the variability of Apparent Density. Hence the latter is a crude estimate of the former. Seasonal and density-related changes in the availability of flies to human catchers could account for the inadequacies of the fly-round technique in assessing fly density and/or challenge. Evidence at present available suggests that trypanotolerant cattle are more likely to be an economic alternative to drug-treated zebu at higher rather than lower challenge levels. Whether either type of animal could profitably be raised in areas of the highest challenge and without some form of tsetse control remains an open question.