New drug for sleeping sickness Antelope Perfume repels tsetse flies

Keep tsetse flies away from cattle with "antelope perfume"

The sleeping sickness that is widespread in many parts of Africa can also lead to death if left untreated. Not only in humans, but also in cattle. The infection is transmitted by tsetse flies. Researchers have now found a way to keep the insects away from cows: using an "antelope perfume".

Sleeping sickness can lead to death

According to Doctors Without Borders, sleeping sickness (African trypanosomiasis) is one of the neglected diseases in which research is insufficiently invested. It is transmitted through the tsetse fly and ends fatally without treatment. "In the final stages, the parasites damage the central nervous system, leading to sleep disturbances, sleep-wake cycle reversal, behavioral changes, mental confusion, and ultimately death," the experts write on their website. The tropical disease is also a massive threat to animals. An international team of scientists has now investigated how the disease can be prevented.

The sleeping sickness transmitted by tsetse flies poses a deadly threat to humans and animals in Africa. Researchers have now discovered that flies can be kept away from cattle with an "antelope perfume". (Image: mycteria / fotolia.com)

Transmitted by widespread flies

Tsetse flies are widespread in Africa. They feed on blood and can transmit the dreaded sleeping sickness.

The first symptoms include severe headache, insomnia, swollen lymph nodes, anemia and rash.

In the late stages of the disease, progressive weight loss and a twilight state, which gives the disease its name. If the infection remains untreated, it ends fatally.

Many people in tropical Africa are directly endangered, but also the transmission to cattle has some drastic consequences for the agriculture: With livestock losses of milk, meat and manpower are recorded.

The damage in Africa is estimated to be around $ 4.6 billion a year.

Tsetse flies do not like antelope smell

Prof. Dr. Christian Borgemeister of the Center for Development Research (ZEF) at the University of Bonn has now teamed up with a team of researchers from the International Center for Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources (both in Kenya) and Rothamsted Research, Harpenden (UK ) has taken a new approach in the fight against sleeping sickness.

The tsetse flies avoid waterbuck, an African antelope, because they find the smell of the animals repulsive.

According to a report from the University of Bonn, the international team of scientists first isolated the antibodies of the waterbuck, identified them and synthesized them in the laboratory.

Tiny quantities of the tsetse-fly repellent substance were filled in plastic containers that were tied to the cattle with a collar.

From then on, the cattle exuded the smell of the unloved waterbuck - like the famous wolf in sheep's clothing, the tsetse flies were deceived by the "antelope perfume".

Waterbuckth odor reduces disease rates by more than 80 percent

The innovative method of disease prevention was tested in a large-scale biannual field trial in Kenya. For the experiment, 120 Maasai shepherds provided more than 1,100 of their cattle.

As the researchers report in the journal "PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases", the incidence rates of the animals treated with the antibody were reduced by more than 80 percent compared to unprotected cattle.

In general, the animals with the protective collar were healthier, heavier, gave more milk, were able to plow more land, and generated significantly higher sales revenues in the regional markets.

Particularly attractive and promising approach

"All of this contributed to a significant improvement in food security and the household income of the pastoral families involved," said Borgemeister.

Compared to the animal medicines used otherwise, the collar method is significantly cheaper and thus more economical, according to the researchers.

In addition, the new technology met with great acceptance among the Maasai shepherds. About 99 percent of shepherds would like to use the collars.

"This method, which has been successfully tested in practice, represents a major advance for the food security of many shepherds and cattle farmers in Africa," said Borgemeister.

Since the collars with the antibody are easy to use and do not cause high costs, this approach is particularly attractive and promising. (Ad)