The conceptual framework of FITCA _ progress report..PDF

African trypanosomosis is a disease of cattle and human beings caused by a protozoan parasite trypanosomespp. There are two forms of African trypanosomosis, human and bovine. The bovine trypanosomosis is causedby the tsetse-borne African species called nagana. In Africa, nagana occurs between the southern limits ofthe Sahara (14° N) to about 29° S. In eastern part of Africa, Trypanosoma congolense and Trypanosoma bruceiare the predominant causes of bovine trypanosomosis. As indicated earlier, these parasites are transmitted byby tsetse flies Glossina spp. In Eastern Africa, the known vectors of animal trypanosomosis are Glosssinapallidipes,; Glossina longipennis,; Glossina swynnertani,; Glossina breupalpis,; Glossina morsitans. The speciesGlossina austeni and Glossina palpalis occur to a lesser degree. The principal vector of Trypanosomacongolense and Trypanosoma brucei is Glossina morsitans.The presence of African trypanosomes undermines potential livelihood opportunities for the vast majority ofsub-Saharan Africa residents. For example, the human form of trypanosomosis infects approximately 300 000people in Africa (UN Wire, 2000; Swallow, 2000). Besides, large swathes' of potentially suitable land forlivestock production remain under-utilised2due to tsetse infestation. In aggregate terms, annual direct andindirect losses attributable to African trypanosomosis are estimated between US $ 1.6 billion to US $ 5 billion(Murray and Gray, 1984, Swallow 1998)3. Yet, tsetse and trypanosomosis control efforts in Africa dates back tothe early part of the 20thCentury (Omamo and dieteren forthcoming). It is therefore evident that past tsetseand trypanosomosis control efforts have fallen short of expectations.Because of these experience FITCA is not only a tsetse control project but it is a rural development project.The philosophy of FITCA is to increase farmers' income by higher animal and crop productivity in order toenable them to pay for inputs needed for control schemes of tsetse flies, ticks and other pests after the endof the externally financed project, thus assuring sustainability.