DETECTION OF TRYPANOSOME INFECTIONS IN THE SALIVA OF TSETSE-FLIES ANDBUFFY-COAT SAMPLES FROM ANTIGENEMIC BUT APARASITAEMIC CATTLE

Relatively simple protocols employing non-radioactive DNA probes have been used for the detection of African trypanosomes in the blood of ma mmalian hosts and the saliva of live tsetse flies. In combination with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), the protocols revealed trypanoso mes in buffy-coat samples from antigenaemic but aparasitaemic cattle a nd in the saliva of live, infected tsetse flies. Furthermore, the prot ocols were used to demonstrate concurrent natural infections of single tsetse flies with different species of African trypanosomes.