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Glossina from the Republic of the Congo: species identification by MALDI-TOF MS and research of associated micro-organisms

delete2026-02-05
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OA
AI
I
Irina Babakana Bemba
Z
Zaina Amirat
P
Philippe Parola
C
Christophe Antonio Nkondjio
A
Arsène Lenga
L
Lionel Alméras
A
Adama Zan Diarra *
DOI:10.1051/parasite/2026007delete
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Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) and Animal African trypanosomiasis (AAT), transmitted by Glossina species, remain major health and economic burdens in Africa. Accurate vector identification is essential for effective control strategies. However, current identification methods of Glossina species based on morphological and/or molecular techniques have several limitations that often hinder reliable species-level classification. This study assessed matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) as an alternative or complementary approach to morphological and molecular methods for Glossina species identification and explored its ability to detect infection status. A total of 265 tsetse flies were collected and morphologically classified into the Glossina palpalis group (n = 200) and the Glossina fuscipes group (n = 65), later confirmed by molecular analysis as Glossina palpalis palpalis and Glossina fuscipes quanzensis, respectively. Spectra were generated from wings, legs, and thoraxes to identify the most suitable body parts. For G. p. palpalis, high-quality spectra were obtained from wings (98.0%), legs (96.5%), and thoraxes (93.5%); for G. f. quanzensis, corresponding values were 89.2%, 87.7%, and 72.3%. Blind testing showed that 89.5% of spectra for G. p. palpalis and 95.2% for G. f. quanzensis matched morphological identification, with 87.0% and 94.6%, respectively, reaching relevant score thresholds. Molecular screening detected Trypanosoma congolense DNA in nine specimens, but MALDI-TOF MS spectra could not distinguish infected from uninfected flies. These findings demonstrate that MALDI-TOF MS is a rapid, reliable tool for Glossina species identification, particularly using wings and legs, but is unsuitable for infection status determination. La trypanosomiase humaine africaine (THA) et la trypanosomiase animale africaine (TAA), transmises par des esp & egrave;ces de Glossina, constituent toujours un fardeau sanitaire et & eacute;conomique majeur en Afrique. L'identification pr & eacute;cise du vecteur est essentielle & agrave; l'efficacit & eacute; des strat & eacute;gies de lutte. Cependant, les m & eacute;thodes d'identification actuelles des esp & egrave;ces de Glossina, bas & eacute;es sur des techniques morphologiques et/ou mol & eacute;culaires, pr & eacute;sentent plusieurs limitations qui entravent souvent une classification fiable au niveau de l'esp & egrave;ce. Cette & eacute;tude a & eacute;valu & eacute; la spectrom & eacute;trie de masse MALDI-TOF comme approche alternative ou compl & eacute;mentaire aux m & eacute;thodes morphologiques et mol & eacute;culaires pour l'identification des esp & egrave;ces de Glossina et a explor & eacute; sa capacit & eacute; & agrave; d & eacute;tecter le statut infectieux. Au total, 265 mouches ts & eacute;-ts & eacute; ont & eacute;t & eacute; collect & eacute;es et class & eacute;es morphologiquement en deux groupes : Glossina palpalis (n = 200) et Glossina fuscipes (n = 65). L'identification de ces esp & egrave;ces a & eacute;t & eacute; confirm & eacute;e ult & eacute;rieurement par analyse mol & eacute;culaire, respectivement comme Glossina palpalis palpalis et Glossina fuscipes quanzensis. Des spectres ont & eacute;t & eacute; g & eacute;n & eacute;r & eacute;s & agrave; partir des ailes, des pattes et du thorax afin d'identifier les parties du corps les plus pertinentes. Pour G. p. palpalis, des spectres de haute qualit & eacute; ont & eacute;t & eacute; obtenus & agrave; partir des ailes (98,0 %), des pattes (96,5 %) et du thorax (93,5 %). Pour G. f. quanzensis, les valeurs correspondantes & eacute;taient de 89,2 %, 87,7 % et 72,3 %. Des tests & agrave; l'aveugle ont montr & eacute; que 89,5 % des spectres de G. p. palpalis et 95,2 % de ceux de G. f. quanzensis correspondaient & agrave; l'identification morphologique, avec respectivement 87,0 % et 94,6 % atteignant les seuils de score pertinents. Le criblage mol & eacute;culaire a d & eacute;tect & eacute; l'ADN de Trypanosoma congolense dans neuf sp & eacute;cimens, mais les spectres MALDI-TOF MS n'ont pas permis de distinguer les mouches infect & eacute;es des non infect & eacute;es. Ces r & eacute;sultats d & eacute;montrent que la spectrom & eacute;trie de masse MALDI-TOF est un outil rapide et fiable pour l'identification des esp & egrave;ces de Glossina, notamment & agrave; partir des ailes et des pattes, mais qu'elle ne convient pas & agrave; la d & eacute;termination du statut infectieux.
Keywords:
Glossina
Species identification
MALDI-TOF MS
Trypanosoma
Molecular biology

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Parasite
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aix-marseille universite
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Citations: 77
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