Abstract:
Tsetse flies are vectors of trypanosome parasites, causative agents of
Trypanosomiasis in humans and animals. Odorant Binding Proteins (OBPs) are
critical in insect olfaction as they bind volatile odours from the environment and
transport them to receptors within olfactory receptor neurons for processing
providing critical information for host identification. Glossina morsitans morsitans
primers designed for conventional PCR were used to screen OBP genes in Glossina
fuscipes fuscipes in female head, thorax, abdomen and leg tissues. A total of 31.8%
of OBPs were identified in G. f. fuscipes head while 18.2% were detected in the
thorax. The abdomen had 22.7% OBPs identified and the legs revealed 18.2% OBPs.
OBP5 and OBP6 were the most predominant since they were detected in the head,
thorax and abdomen of G. fuscipes fuscipes which may provide the need to identify
their functions in both G. morsitans morsitans and G. fuscipes fuscipes. This study
confirms genetic differences between OBPs from riverine (G. f. fuscipes) and
savanna (G. m morsitans) species which may be key in understanding the role of
olfaction in enhancing vector competence of G. m. morsitans and G. f. fuscipes. Such
information will be critical in designing better vector control strategies based on
olfactory mediated behavior.
