UPDATING TSETSE DISTRIBUTION: PRESENCE OF AUSTENINA SUBGENUS GROUP IN NORTHERN-CAMEROON

Background: In Cameroon, twelve species and subspecies belonging to the three subgenera of tsetse flies had been identified. It is commonly known that fusca and palpalis groups are found in Southern-Cameroon while morsitans group is encountered in the northern part of the country, a part of Glossina tachinoides which is found in both northern and southern infested areas.

Aims: In the perspective of updating Cameroon tsetse distribution map, a longitudinal entomological survey was carried out in Dodeo basin, an area in the Adamawa region, northern- Cameroon.

Methodology: Eight unbaited traps of two models were set out from side to side around two cowspen (four traps per pen), at 100m of each other according to the following order: A biconical trap versus a Nzi trap. Traps were visited once a day between 10.00am to 10.30am during four consecutive days per month and for the period of six months: From August 2012 to January 2013.

Results: A total of 128 tsetse flies were caught at the end of the investigation, 68 females versus 60 males. Species identified were respectively Glossina fuscipes fuscipes, G. morsitans submorsitans and G. fusca congolensis. Density of flies decreased progressively throughout the assessment, whatever the subgenus. It is the first time a species of Austenina subgenus is documented in that area.

Conclusion: This study confirms the extreme necessity to update tsetse distribution map in Cameroon before any intervention in the framework of tsetse and trypanosomosis control.