%0 Journal Article
%T Population genetics of Glossina palpalis palpalis from central African sleeping sickness foci
%A Tr¨¦sor Melachio
%A Gustave Simo
%A Sophie Ravel
%A Thierry De Mee£¿s
%A Sandrine Causse
%A Philippe Solano
%A Pascal Lutumba
%A Tazoacha Asonganyi
%A Flobert Njiokou
%J Parasites & Vectors
%D 2011
%I BioMed Central
%R 10.1186/1756-3305-4-140
%X A strong isolation by distance explains most of the population structure observed in our sampling sites of Cameroon and DRC. The populations here are composed of panmictic subpopulations occupying fairly wide zones with a very strong isolation by distance. Effective population sizes are probably between 20 and 300 individuals and if we assume densities between 120 and 2000 individuals per km2, dispersal distance between reproducing adults and their parents extends between 60 and 300 meters.This first investigation of population genetic structure of G. p. palpalis in Central Africa has evidenced random mating subpopulations over fairly large areas and is thus at variance with that found in West African populations of G. p. palpalis. This study brings new information on the isolation by distance at a macrogeographic scale which in turn brings useful information on how to organise regional tsetse control. Future investigations should be directed at temporal sampling to have more accurate measures of demographic parameters in order to help vector control decision.Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) is a neglected tropical disease occurring in sub-Saharan Africa. After several historical cycles of epidemics followed by decreases in prevalence [1], WHO has recently announced the aim of elimination of HAT as a public health problem [2]. Central Africa, in particular DRC, remains the most affected area by sleeping sickness, harbouring more than 90% of the total number of cases [3].The distribution of HAT foci depends on the combined presence of the parasite, the vertebrate host, and the tsetse. The species Glossina palpalis, which is the main vector of HAT in West Africa, and which is also a vector of HAT in Central Africa, and a vector of animal trypanosomiasis in western and central Africa, is composed of two subspecies, G. p. gambiensis and G. p. palpalis. Although several studies on tsetse population genetics have been published on G. p. gambiensis [4], very few data ar
%U http://www.parasitesandvectors.com/content/4/1/140