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The distribution of Glossina in the Ilorin Province of Northern Nigeria

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

J. W. Scott Macfie
J. W. Scott Macfie
Affiliation:
West African Medical Service.
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Extract

With the rapid development of Northern Nigeria, following the British administration and the completion of the railway from Lagos to Kano, problems hitherto of minor importance are continually coming into prominence. Amongst these the abatement of trypanosomiasis is a matter of medical and entomological interest. As the confidence of the people grows there is an increase of intercommunication, which inevitably involves a danger of the spread of such diseases as sleeping sickness from existing foci. In Northern Nigeria these foci are at present peculiarly isolated, but they will gradually lose their isolation as the efforts made to stimulate the agricultural development of the country meet with greater success and the growing demand for roads, feeders for the railway, and better means of transport, is satisfied. In a densely populated and naturally fertile country like Ilorin the problem of avoiding this danger is particularly insistent, but unfortunately also particularly difficult. In the neighbouring province of Kabba sleeping sickness is said to be endemic, and might readily move westwards with the opening up of the interior ; and in a large part of the province of Ilorin itself tsetse-flies already spread disease amongst the cattle and horses to such an extent that these animals cannot live. Nevertheless, during the dry season, herds of cattle pass, day after day, in an almost continuous stream along the highroads on their way to Lagos from the north. How many die on the journey no one can tell, for the fate of those that sicken is to be butchered by the way, and it is a common experience to come across a carcase hewn up and laid out for sale by the road-side (Pl. I, fig. 1).

Type
Original Articles
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 4 , Issue 1 , May 1913 , pp. 1 - 28
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1913

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References

* Geology and Geography of Northern Nigeria, 1911, p. 16.

† Falconer, J D., Geology and Geography of Northern Nigeria, p. 18–19.Google Scholar

‡ Op. cit. p. 20–21.

* Bull. Ent. Research, ii, 01 1912, p. 297.Google Scholar

† In this paper Zumbufu has been included in the eastern division in consideration of its geographical position, although for administrative purposes it is assigned to the western division.

* See p. 13.

* See pp. 12–13.

* An enterprising herdsman recently attempted to settle near Lafiagi. In September, shortly before I left Ilorin, I heard that his cattle were dying off, thus once more proving the unsuitability of this district for Fulani herds.

† Reports of the Sleeping Sickness Commission of the Royal Society, no. xi.

* Comptes Rendus de l'Académie des Sciences, 2nd 10 1911.Google Scholar

* In a fresh preparation the details of the genitalia of the male differ considerably from those seen after treatment with caustic potash. Maceration, as might be expected, destroys all the finer structures, and distorts the natural arrangements of the organs. This is conspicuous in the case of the inferior clasper. In a macerated specimen the terminal portion of the inferior clasper is extended into a leg-like process, ending in a foot-like extremity which overlaps its fellow of the opposite side in the middle line. In a fresh specimen, on the contrary, the leg-like process of the inferior clasper is seen to be bent upwards into an S-shaped structure. The first bend occurs at the proximal end of the process in an upward and outward direction, the second in the middle of the foot-like extremity in such a way as to curve the toe upwards and backwards over that part of the extension which, to preserve the analogy, must be called the ankle. Looking at the hypopygium from above, therefore, in a specimen from which the point of the superior clasper has been broken off on one side, a clear outline of the broad basal portion only of the inferior clasper can be seen at the lowest focus. On raising the focus a little the ankle of the leg-like process comes into view, with the sole of the heel and the folded border of the toe forming a line parallel to, but behind, the lower incurving border of the broad basal part of the clasper. At the highest focus only the toe is seen clearly, its tip pointing directly backwards. In a side view the extension of the inferior clasper resembles a snake poised with its head drawn back ready to strike.

* The jangali tax is levied on all Fulani cattle at the rate of 1s. 6d. a head. No tax is collected on the dwarf cattle found in Egbe, Eri, Ofa Ora, Oro, Osi, Idofin and Awtun.

* Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, vii., no. 1, 1913.

† Reports of the Sleeping Sickness Commission of the Royal Society, no. xi.

* “A third report on experimental work on Animal Trypanosomiasis,” by Andrew Foy, H., D.P.H., in the Journal of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene, 16th 10 1911.Google Scholar

† Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, 1913, vii., no. 1.

‡ Ibid.

* There can be no doubt that under certain conditions trypanosomes of the types generally found in animals may infect man. This fact is illustrated by the case recently published by Martin and Darrè (“Un cas de trypanosomiase humaine contractée au laboratoire.” Par Louis Martin et Henri Darrè. Bulletin de la Société de Pathologie Exotique, Tome V., No. 10, 1912) in which the trypanosome was reported to have the following reactions : “ Pour le virus laboratoire, très pathogène pour la souris, et manifestement du type nagana-surra, les réactions d'immunité passive croisée (pouvoir protecteur du sérum d'animaux, cobayes, chèvres, infectés) l'éloignent des Tr. brucei et togolense et le rapprochent du Tr. evansi.”

† Considerable confusion seems to have arisen as to the type of trypanosome to which the name T. brucei properly applies. It should be pointed out therefore that in this paper the name T. brucei has been used when referring to a polymorphic parasite similar to that described and figured by Sir David Bruce and his collaborators in the Reports of the Sleeping Sickness Commission of the Royal Society, no. xi. This trypanosome is probably that for which Prof. Stephens and Dr. Blacklock have recently proposed the name T. ugandae.

‡ See “Trypanosomiasis of Domestic Animals in Northern Nigeria,” Annals of Tropical Medicine and Parasitology, vii, no. 1, 1913.

* In this synopsis the following abbreviations are used :—P. for Glossina palpalis ; T. for G. tachinoides; M. for G. submorsitans ; L. for G. longipalpis. The month in which the species was observed is indicated by Roman numerals.