This archive report was first published on 2 July 2019.
Scientists have long been puzzled by the fact that tsetse flies, which transmit the deadly African trypanosomosis disease, rarely bite zebras despite their presence in the same areas. A recent study published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases journal has shed new light on this phenomenon, revealing that zebras produce certain scents that repel tsetse flies.
According to the study, led by Nigerian scholar Olabimpe Olaide, a blend of three of these odours enhances the effectiveness of existing tsetse management tools, including the icipe tsetse repellent collar technology and NGU traps.
‘Our study established that zebras produce certain scents that repel tsetse flies. We also found that a blend of three of these odours enhances the effectiveness of existing tsetse management tools,’ notes Olabimpe.
The researchers do not rule out the possibility of the zebra stripes as a factor in driving away tsetse flies, and future studies will explore this likelihood, as well as other visual and odour cues from zebra breath, urine and dung.
From a broader perspective, the study strengthens the case for the conservation of Africa’s wildlife, highlighting the indispensable function of wildlife in ecosystems and the amazing possibilities they harbour for human survival.
