Extrachromosomal inheritance of susceptibility to trypanosome infection in tsetse flies.

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Abstract
Two lines of Glossina m. morsitans, selected for susceptibility and refractoriness to infection with a single stock of Trypanosoma congolense, have now been shown to be susceptible or refractory to different stocks of T. congolense and, also, to different stocks of T. b. brucei and T. b. gambiense. The mean midgut infection rates of the susceptible line obtained in different experiments with T. congolense, T. b. brucei and T. b. gambiense were, respectively, 66%, 56% and 55%; the corresponding mature (hypopharynx or salivary gland) infection rates were 37%, 23% and 0%. The highest mature infection rates obtained in individual experiments with susceptible flies were 65% (T. congolense) and 40% (T. b. brucei). Mean T. congolense and T. b. brucei midgut infection rates obtained with the refractory line were 29% and 33% respectively, the mature infection rates being 12% and 7%, all significantly lower than the corresponding rates in the susceptible line. Development of midgut infections in susceptible flies appears to take place irrespective of trypanosome stock or form. There is some evidence to suggest that higher infection rates can be obtained with flies infected and maintained on mammals rather than on in vitro feeding systems. Susceptible flies matures a significantly greater proportion of their midgut T. congolense and T. b. brucei infections than did the refractory line, which suggests that maturation of infections is influenced by the susceptibility status of the fly. However, the apparent inability of these flies to develop mature infections of a major T. b. gambiense genetic grouping suggests that maturation of infections established in the midgut is a phenomenon primarily associated with trypanosome genotype.

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