Experiments to ascertain if Trypanosoma gambiense during its development within Glossina palpalis is infective

Abstract

It will be remembered that the injection of chopped-up tsetse flies ( Glossina morsitans ) a short time after feeding on an infected animal, did not give rise to nagana. As this was thought to be an interesting fact, and difficult of explanation, experiments were carried out on the same lines with Trypanosoma gambiense and Glossina palpalis . It tsetse flies ( Glossina palpalis ) are fed upon an animal whose blood contains Trypanosoma gambiense , the trypanosomes can be found living within the intestines of some of the flies for several days after they were ingested. In a small percentage (0·5 to 2·0 per cent.) of flies so infected, active trypanosomes may be found swarming in their intestines on any day between the seventh and the fiftieth day, or even longer, after they have been fed upon an infected animal.