Near-infrared spectroscopy discriminates mass-reared sterile and wild tsetse flies
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Background
Monitoring the efficacy of the sterile insect technique (SIT) programs, it is desirable to discriminate between wild and sterile tsetse males captured in monitoring traps. Currently, this is primarily achieved by marking sterile males with fluorescent dye powder before release, and identifying them using a fluorescence camera and/or microscope. However, the accuracy of this method is limited due to defective marking and wild flies contaminated with a few dye particles in the monitoring traps. Molecular techniques have been developed to discriminate doubtful flies, but they are expensive for endemic countries.
Methodology/Principal findings
Here, we investigate the ability of a new generation monitoring tool, Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS), to discriminate between laboratory-reared Glossina palpalis gambiensis males and their field counterparts. NIRS was able to discriminate wild males from laboratory-reared males with 86% accuracy. Notably, the prediction accuracy improved to 88% when the laboratory-reared flies had been irradiated.
Conclusions/Significance
These findings suggest that NIRS can successfully identify tsetse flies even when UV camera identification is inconclusive. However, further studies are needed to expand the training dataset and include additional environmental variables before validating NIRS as a complementary method for future tsetse eradication programs.
Monitoring the efficacy of the sterile insect technique (SIT) programs, it is desirable to discriminate between wild and sterile tsetse males captured in monitoring traps. Currently, this is primarily achieved by marking sterile males with fluorescent dye powder before release, and identifying them using a fluorescence camera and/or microscope. However, the accuracy of this method is limited due to defective marking and wild flies contaminated with a few dye particles in the monitoring traps. Molecular techniques have been developed to discriminate doubtful flies, but they are expensive for endemic countries.
Methodology/Principal findings
Here, we investigate the ability of a new generation monitoring tool, Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS), to discriminate between laboratory-reared Glossina palpalis gambiensis males and their field counterparts. NIRS was able to discriminate wild males from laboratory-reared males with 86% accuracy. Notably, the prediction accuracy improved to 88% when the laboratory-reared flies had been irradiated.
Conclusions/Significance
These findings suggest that NIRS can successfully identify tsetse flies even when UV camera identification is inconclusive. However, further studies are needed to expand the training dataset and include additional environmental variables before validating NIRS as a complementary method for future tsetse eradication programs.
Editor(s)
Abd-Alla, Adly MM
Date Issued
2025-01-29
Date Acceptance
2025-01-20
Citation
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 2025, 19
ISSN
1935-2727
Publisher
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Journal / Book Title
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
Volume
19
Issue
1
Copyright Statement
© 2025 Pagabeleguem et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
License URL
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/39879251
PII: PNTD-D-24-01478
Subjects
AGE
DIPTERA
ERADICATION
FLY
GLOSSINA-TACHINOIDES
Infectious Diseases
INTEGRATED CAMPAIGN
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Parasitology
RELEASE
Science & Technology
TRAPS
Tropical Medicine
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
United States
Article Number
e0012857
Date Publish Online
2025-01-29