Tired of tsetse flies? Try these solutions

Dr Othieno Joseph

I have a concern and I think given your links with the agency tasked with eradication of tsetse flies, you are well placed to answer it. I am a dairy farmer in Migori County. While my father kept indigenous cattle, I have upgraded to exotic dairy crosses. Ever since I was a child, I knew my area was tsetse infested and this significantly locked away introduction of exotic dairy animals in the area. This is despite the fact that local breeds did not do well either. Determined to introduce dairy animals in my area, I cleared all bushes around my farm and convinced my neighbours to do the same. Though the government has assisted to some extent in provision of insecticides, it is never enough. Last year, I lost one of my exotic crosses to a suspected case of trypanosomiasis. What other control options do we have because we are determined to do dairy farming. [Nelson Odhiambo]

Thank you, Mr Odhiambo, for reaching out to us. I am no longer with the Kenya Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Council (KENTTEC) where I worked for years as a veterinary officer. I now work at the Directorate of Veterinary Services within the veterinary extension and communication division and therefore still well placed to respond to your question.

Tsetse flies and Nagana

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Tsetse flies are the main vectors of a fatal disease called nagana (Trypanosomiasis). These insects have condemned many a farmer to a perpetual cycle of poverty as they negatively affect livestock productivity and reproduction and deny households milk, meat and income. There are continental efforts through Pan African Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Campaign (PATTEC) to eradicate tsetse flies and subsequently trypanosomiasis from the sub-Saharan Africa where tsetse flies are endemic.

Consistent spraying

As you rightfully note KENTTEC has been supporting farmers to spray their animals. Sprayed animals act as deadly traps for tsetse flies that land on their bodies to suck blood.

Other methods of killing the flies are tsetse traps set in their natural habitats. Modifying the environment to make it unfavourable for tsetse flies has is done in areas where tsetse flies have already been controlled.

Laboratory sterilised males are also used as a control strategy. They attract the females and during mating they all die.

Sterile males are applied as the last wipe out measure to find any remaining females and bring an end to a generation of tsetse flies.

In order to work effectively, animal spraying must be done by all farmers in an area otherwise doing it alone in an infested neighbourhood will have little if any effect. That is why this requires a government harmonised approach where an area is identified for eradication efforts and a plan is rolled out with the involvement of all cattle keepers in an area.

Other options?

Since Kenya is yet to attain the eradicated status,  there are other options that can be applied in tsetse areas.

Netted zero grazing units

There are commercially manufactured zero grazing nets that can be fitted round a zero grazing unit. This works like our mosquito nets. These nets are also treated with insecticides and therefore not only act as a physical barrier but also as a chemical weapon that kills flies that come in contact with the nets. Research has shown that these nets also prevent other nuisance flies and greatly increase productivity in addition to preventing spread of diseases like nagana.

Trypano-tolerant cattle breeds

There are cattle breeds that are naturally resistant to trypanosomiasis and can survive in tsetse-infested areas. N’dama of West Africa and our Orma Boran have been shown to be resistant to trypanosomiasis. A lot of research is ongoing on their crosses and other breeds.

Chemoprophylaxis

In the current era of Antimicrobial Resistance,  a contested approach has been used as a prophylactic treatment to protect cattle from coming down with the disease.

 [The writer is the Vet of the Year Award winner and works in the Division of Communication and Vet Advisory Services within the Directorate of Veterinary Services; [email protected]]