Learning influences host choice in tsetse.
A learning capacity for feeding is described in many insect species including vectors of diseases, but has never been reported in tsetse flies (Diptera, Glossinidae), the cyclic vectors of human (sleeping sickness) and animal trypanosomoses in Africa. Repeated feeding on the same host species by a disease vector is likely to increase the within-species disease-transmission risk, but to decrease it between species. An experiment with cattle and reptiles in a stable provides evidence that the species of host selected for the second blood meal in tsetse flies depends on the host encountered for the first blood meal when the between-meal interval is 2 days. This preference disappears when the between-meal interval is extended to 3 days. The energetic advantages of this acquired preference and its importance in trypanosomoses epidemiology are discussed.
Bouyer
Jérémy
J
Centre de coopération internationale en recherche agronomique pour le développement (CIRAD), Département d'élevage et de médecine vétérinaire, 34398 Montpellier Cedex 5, France. bouyer@cirad.fr
Pruvot
Mathieu
M
Bengaly
Zacharia
Z
Guerin
Patrick M
PM
Lancelot
Renaud
R
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000469:parasitology*; D005518:Food Preferences / Q000502:physiology*; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions / Q000502:physiology; D007299:Insect Bites and Stings; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000502:physiology*; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012104:Reptiles / Q000469:parasitology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014352:Trypanosomiasis / Q000635:transmission; D014370:Tsetse Flies / Q000502:physiology*