The transmissibility of Trypanosoma congolense seems to be associated with its level of resistance to isometamidium chloride.
In large parts of Africa the control of livestock trypanosomiasis relies on the use of trypanocidal drugs. Resistance against the available compounds is developing rapidly in the trypanosome population. The effect of the development of drug resistance on the fitness of the trypanosome is not well known. To determine the effect of the development of resistance to isometamidium chloride on the trypanosome's transmissibility, transmission experiments were conducted. Use was made of three isogenic clones of Trypanosoma congolense with different susceptibility to the drug. The infection rate in Glossina morsitans morsitans differed significantly between clones and was significantly higher in tsetse flies infected with the T. congolense clone with the highest level of drug resistance.
van den Bossche
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P
Institute of Tropical Medicine, Animal Health Department, Nationalestraat 155, 2000 Antwerpen, Belgium. pvdbossche@itg.be
Akoda
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K
Kubi
C
C
Marcotty
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T
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D004351:Drug Resistance; D051379:Mice; D010617:Phenanthridines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014348:Trypanosoma congolense / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D014353:Trypanosomiasis, African / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D014354:Trypanosomiasis, Bovine / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D014370:Tsetse Flies / Q000469:parasitology
D010617:Phenanthridines; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents; C000702:isometamidium chloride