Efficacy of high doses of ivermectin–clorsulon in cattle on Glossina palpalis gambiensis survival and fecundity: implications for human and animal trypanosomoses control

Background

Trypanosomoses are parasitic diseases caused by Trypanosoma protozoa transmitted by tsetse flies ( Glossina spp.) to humans and animals. These diseases cause major health and economic disruptions in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite the development and wide implementation of control strategies, the disease burden remains high and complementary tools are needed. Ivermectin is an endectocide toxic to arthropods, including Glossina . The aim of this study was to test the efficacy of different doses of ivermectin administered to cattle on the survival and fecundity of Glossina palpalis gambiensis Vanderplank, 1949 in Burkina Faso.

Methods

This study compared the survival and fecundity of tsetse flies exposed to cattle treated with ivermectin–clorsulon (onefold veterinary therapeutic dose [TD; 0.2 mg/kg], twofold TD [2TD; 0.4 mg/kg], and fourfold TD [4TD; 0.8 mg/kg]) with those of flies exposed to control cattle (no treatment). Direct-skin blood-feeding experiments were performed at different days post-injection (DPI) (DPI: 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, and 36). The 30-day fly survival was analyzed using Kaplan–Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards models. Fecundity parameters were compared among treatments using generalized linear modeling (GLM). Time to first pupation was also measured.

Results

Fly mortality differed significantly between treatments ( χ ²  = 353.63, df  = 3, P  < 0.001), with 30-day mortality rates at 1 DPI of 24.0%, 59.8%, 88.9%, and 90.4% in the control, TD, 2TD and 4TD groups, respectively. Treatments also significantly affected pupal production ( χ ²  = 353.63, df  = 3, P  < 0.001), with a decrease of 43.6–100% relative to control at 1 DPI. In addition, in tsetse flies exposed to the treatment, the deposition of the first larva occurred 9–10 days later than in nonexposed flies, in both the 2TD and 4TD groups at 1 DPI. In the 4TD group, toxic effects lasted until 15 DPI (survival) and 8 DPI (fecundity parameters).

Conclusions

In our experiment, blood meals from cattle treated with an ivermectin–clorsulon formulation significantly reduced tsetse fly survival and fecundity, two key traits influencing vectorial capacity. Thus, treatment of domestic animals with the formulation has the potential to reduce trypanosomes transmission and improve both human and animal health in sub-Saharan Africa.

Graphical Abstract