Spatial distribution and bloodmeal preferences of Glossina palpalis palpalis in the forest focus of Zoukougbeu. Epidemiological consequences

In the sleeping sickness focus of Zoukougbeu (Cote d'Ivoire), in the croppi ng areas which are favourable for disease transmission, more than a quarter of the flies collected were found to have fed on domestic pigs. The sites where Glossina palpalis palpalis was caught fed on these animals were conco rdant with the sites where the patients were present. These results might i ndicate thai in Zoukougbeu, but perhaps also in other sleeping sickness foc i, the pig could play an active role in disease transmission, allowing the parasite to spread widely via the tsetse.