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. 2022 Dec 22;16(12):e0010999. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010999

Evaluating the efficacy of various traps in catching tsetse flies at Nech Sar and Maze National Parks, Southwestern Ethiopia: An Implication for Trypanosoma Vector Control

Netsanet Asfaw 1,2,*, Berhanu Hiruy 2, Netsanet Worku 3, Fekadu Massebo 2,*
Editor: Epco Hasker4
PMCID: PMC9822101  PMID: 36548437

Abstract

Tsetse flies are the vector of protozoan parasite of the genus Trypanosoma, the causative agent of human African sleeping sickness and animal trypanosomiasis. Traps such as Nguruman (NGU), biconical and sticky traps are in use for tsetse flies sampling and monitoring. However, there is no evidence regarding their comparative efficiency in catching flies using olfactory cues. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of different types of traps in catching tsetse flies at Nech Sar and Maze National Parks, Southwestern Ethiopia. The study was done for six consecutive months from February to July 2019. Briefly, a 3×4 Latin square design was performed, and tsetse flies were collected for three days each month in four different vegetation types, including wood grassland, bush land, forest, and riverine forest. To avoid trapping position bias, rotation of traps has been done every day. Almost all (99.5%) of the flies were Glossina pallidipes and the remaining were G. fuscipes. The latter were present only at Maze national park. NGU traps were the most efficient type with 12.1 flies/trap/day at Nech Sar National Park and it was 2.2 flies/trap/day at Maze National Park followed by biconical and sticky traps. The number of tsetse flies collected by biconical trap was three-fold lower than NGU trap, and it was four-fold lower in sticky trap than NGU trap in both Nech Sar and Maze National Parks. A substantial number (41%) of G. pallidipes were collected from woody grassland (WGL). In conclusion, G. pallidipes monitoring and evaluation activities could consider NGU trap model as it performed better in most vegetation types in the region.

Author summary

African Animal Trypanosomiasis (AAT) or Nagana and Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) agents, are transmitted by a blood feeding vector called tsetse flies. In Animals, the disease is arguably the main constraint to an integrated livestock and crop production in sub-Saharan Africa, including Ethiopia. In humans, the disease is highly neglected. Vector control is considered to be one of the strategies to control the AAT and HAT. These interventions, however, need sampling and monitoring of vector distribution in disease endemic areas. This will be done using different tsetse traps. In Ethiopia, especially in southern and south-western regions, NGU (Nguruman), Biconical and Sticky traps are commonly used, but no evidences on the effectiveness of these traps in catching flies have been generated. Therefore, the measurement of traps efficiency and identification of the most effective one based on the type of vegetation in Nech Sar and Maze National Parks was the aim of this study. Our findings indicated that the NGU trap was the most effective model and the best-identified trap in most vegetation types in the region. This will help in monitoring the impact of interventions and for effective control of trypanosomiasis.

Introduction

Tsetse flies (Diptera: Glossinidae) are responsible for transmission of the protozoan parasites of the genus Trypanosoma, the pathogenic agents of Human African Trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) and Africa Animal Trypanosomiasis (nagana) [1, 2]. There are 33 species and sub-species of tsetse flies in Africa, infesting over 10 million km2 areas in 37 Africa countries [2]. Both male and female tsetse flies are important vectors of human and animal trypanosomiasis. The parasites are injected into the hosts when an infected tsetse fly bites the susceptible hosts to take a blood meal [3]. Animal trypanosomiasis results in loss of weight, loss of productivity, reduced milk yield and abortion in the infected animal [2].

Since early times, there are several tsetse fly control methods, namely bush clearing, game animal elimination, hand catching, ground and aerial spraying [4]. But, these techniques had not been considered to be effective due to their limited effect on the target vector, their high cost and environmental consequences [3, 4]. Consequently, several other techniques have been developed and widely used in almost all tsetse infested African countries, including Ethiopia. These methods include stationary targets, ground and aerial spraying of insecticides, mobile targets, sterile insect technique (SIT) and integrated vector management strategies [5, 6].

There are also several types of traps for monitoring the impact of interventions and sampling tsetse flies. However, most traps are developed in West and Southern Africa for surveillance of riverine and savannah tsetse species. Moreover, the efficacy of traps in capturing tsetse fly varies from species to species and from location to location. Therefore, there is a need to modify the design of traps to enhance the efficacy of traps based on the species commonly found in a particular target area [7, 8]. Usually, traps function through visual stimuli. In the field, however, the visual stimuli can be greatly obstructed by vegetation, particularly in forest habitats. In such cases, attraction of flies to traps is enhanced with odor attractants. At least three groups of natural odors (urine, breath and skin secretions) have been identified so far from the host animals as bait [5, 9]. In Ethiopia, Nguruman (Ngu trap) and biconical traps are widely in use. In addition, sticky traps are in use for trapping flies. However, little is known about the relative effectiveness of these traps in monitoring and assessing tsetse fly control interventions using olfactory cues (baits) in various types of vegetation.

In the Southern Rift Valley of Ethiopia, there is an on-going program aiming to eradicate tsetse and trypanosomiasis. The program has been undertaken for about 20 years. These strategies include deployment of odour baited and mobile targets, ground and aerial spraying and chemical impregnated targets to suppress the tsetse population. Most recently, the male sterile technique has been widely deployed once the tsetse flies population was suppressed [10]. At the final stages of vector elimination, there should be a very sensitive trapping methods for surveillance and monitoring and ensure tsetse elimination [1, 10]. Therefore, identifying the efficient traps type has a paramount importance for routine follow-up and monitoring of the tsetse species dynamics that can aid in decision-making to undertake control interventions in an integrated fashion. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to compare the trapping efficiency of three types of traps in different vegetation types using cattle urine baits. The study also assessed the current abundance and infestation of tsetse flies and monthly variation in both national parks studied.

Materials and methods

Ethical considerations

Permission to conduct the study in the National Parks was obtained from Nech Sar and Maze National Parks administrators. The objective of the study was discussed. Training was given to data collectors on collection techniques and park rules and regulations.

Study areas description

This study was carried out in Nech Sar and Maze National Parks in Southwest Ethiopia (Fig 1). The two parks are located in the Rift Valley of the Southwest Ethiopia in Gamo zone. The total area of Nech Sar National Park is 514 km2 and the Maze National Park covers about 210 km2. The elevation of the Nech Sar National Park ranges between 1108 and 1650 meters above sea level (masl). Its annual temperature ranges between 20°C and 34°C. The park forms the riverine forest vegetation type along the Kulfo River that flows to the Lake Chamo. This may create a good habitat for tsetse flies. There are also other habitats like savannah or wood grass land, bush land and forest [11].

Fig 1. Map of the study area in Gamo zone, Southwest Ethiopia.

Fig 1

Administrative boundaries, USGS Earth Explorer: (https://earthexplorer.usgs.gov), Roads, Water (River, lakes))–from DIVA-GIS (https://www.diva-gis.org/gdata), Central Stastical Agency and Regional of Finance and Economies Development).

Maze National Park, get its name from the Maze River which crosses the park, has an elevation ranging between 900 and 1200 masl. The park is mainly covered by savannah grassland with scattered deciduous broad-leaved trees as well as riverine forest along the main watercourses. The riverine vegetation along the banks of the Maze River is an ideal habitat for tsetse fly.

A number of wild animals including Zebras, Gazelles, Hogs, Hippopotamus, Lions, Leopards, Antelopes, Buffaloes, Swayne’s Hartebeests and others are living in the Nech Sar and Maze National Parks and serving as a source of blood meals for tsetse flies [12].

Study design and period

A Latin-Square design was employed to evaluate the efficacy of the three trap types, namely NGU, Biconical and Sticky traps in four vegetation types (wood grassland, bush land, forest and riverine forest vegetation). The traps are made from cotton. In brief, NGU trap has two sides blue. The black target base is attached half way along the base of the two sides and its top is fixed to the upper rear corner [13]. Biconical trap consists of two cones each 80 cm wide, an upper cone 73 cm high and a lower cone 60 cm high, joined at their widest point. The blue lower cone has four entrances, approximately 30 cm high and 20 cm wide. Vertically dividing the inside of the trap is a black cruciform [14]. A 12 mm hole on its apex of NGU and biconical traps admits flies to the cage. Sticky trap comprised of blue and black panels each 0.25 × 0.25 m in size and thus making it 0.25 × 0.50 m in dimension [14]. The board with the fastened targets was then covered with a transparent sticky film and it smears adhesive TEMO-O-CID Color on the film (GR 570 22 Thessaloniki, Greece).

The tsetse collection was done for six consecutive months between February and July, 2019. The number of Latin square replicates in each vegetation type was three per study site/month. In brief, 9 traps were deployed per month per survey site per vegetation. A total of 36 traps were deployed per site/month. Over the six consecutive months, 216 traps were set at each survey site. There were 432 traps deployed at both sites. The initial trapping site for each vegetation type was selected at random. Next, traps were rotated clockwise every day for three days each month in order to minimize bias due to trap placement and day effect. The distance between the traps was placed in a 200 m long equilateral triangle in open vegetation like WGL and BUL, while 100 to 150 m side lengths in closed or dense vegetations such as forest and riverine forests.

Tsetse collection and species identification

The tsetse fly collection was done using different trap models baited by fermented cattle urine. All information, including date of deployment, date of collection, code of collectors, fly species, season of data collection, type of vegetation and traps, and GPS coordinate was recorded on a standardized data sheet.

Tsetse flies were sorted by species, sex, vegetation type, trap model, GPS position, and month of collection. The identification of the tsetse species was based on morphological characteristics using a hand-held lens, as indicated in the tsetse classification keys [15, 16]. Morphological features such as the antenna, antennal fringe, colour of underside of thecal bulb, and thorax, median bristles on scutellum, wing spot, colour and segments of leg, colour of abdomen and type of superior claspers were considered [15, 16].

Outcome variables

The primary outcome variable was the number of tsetse flies trapped in each trap and vegetation type. The composition of the tsetse species and its monthly distribution by vegetation type were also evaluated as secondary variables.

Data management and analysis

The data was entered in Microsoft excel and transferred to the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) software version 20.0 for analysis. The non-parametric statistical tests, Kruskal-Wallis and Mann Whitney U Test, were applied to test the mean variation between traps and vegetation types. The number of tsetse flies collected served as a dependent variable. The collection site, trap type, tsetse species, vegetation type and month of collection were the independent variables. The total number of tsetse flies and the number of traps in each vegetation type and research site were used to calculate the mean number and density of tsetse flies. Analysis of results was considered statistically significant when the P-value was < 0.05 at a 95% confidence interval.

Results

Tsetse fly species

Glossina pallidipes was the dominant (1592/1599; 99.6%) species in both parks. A few (7/1599; 0.4%) G. fuscipes were collected at Maze National Park in the iverine forest vegetation using sticky traps. NGU and biconical traps were not successful in catching G. fuscipes. None of the G. fuscipes were caught in Nech Sar National Park. Eight three per cent (1317/1599) of G. pallidipes were collected from Nech Sar National Park, while the remaining 17.3 per cent (282/1599) were collected from Maze National Park.

Monthly variation of G. pallidipes

Over 60% of G. pallidipes were captured in the first three months (February, March and April) and the remaining 40% were captured in May, June and July (Fig 2).

Fig 2. The overall monthly distribution of tsetse flies in the study area.

Fig 2

Overall density of G. pallidipes and traps efficacy

The overall mean number of G. pallidipes was 7.8/NUG trap, and it was 2.2/biconical and 1.7/sticky trap. The average rank of NUG trap was 275.6 and it was 199.3 for biconical and 174.5 for sticky trap. There was statistically significant variation between traps in catching G. pallidipes (Kruskal-Wallis Test χ2 = 54; DF = 2; p < 0.001). Statistically, more G. pallidipes were collected by NGU trap than biconical (Mann-Whitney U test χ2 = 76.3; p < 0.001) and sticky trap (Mann-Whitney U test χ2 = 101.1; p < 0.00). No statistically significant difference was observed in the number of G. pallidipes collected by biconical and sticky traps (Mann-Whitney U test χ2 = 24.8; p = 0.25).

Density of G. pallidipes and traps efficacy in the two parks

The mean number of G. pallidipes in Nech Sar National Park was 6.1 flies/trap/day, while it was 1.3 flies/trap/day at Maze National Park (Table 1). The Mann-Whitney U Test mean rank was 269.9 in Nech Sar National Park and this was significantly higher than the mean rank value of 163.1 in Maze National Park (p < 0.001). There was variation in traps performance in the two National Parks. NUG trap had better performance in catching G. pallidipes than other traps. The mean number of G. pallidipes per NUG trap was 12.1/trap in Nech Sar National Park. The same trap type showed better performance in the Maze National Park with mean number of G. pallidipes of 2.2/trap. This number of G. pallidipes has decreased nearly by three-folds when using biconical traps at Nech Sar and Maze National Parks and four folds when using sticky traps at Nech Sar National Park.

Table 1. Mean density of tsetse flies in Nech Sar and Maze National Parks, Southwest Ethiopia.

Study sites NGU, n (Fly/ trap/day) Biconical, n (Fly/ trap/day) Sticky, n (Fly/trap /day Total, n (Fly /trap/day)
Nech Sar 814 (12.1) 284 (3.5) 219 (2.7) 1317 (6.1)
Maze 176 (2.2) 59 (0.85) 47 (0.81) 282 (1.3)
Total 990 343 266 1599

n = number of fly

The average rank value (Kruskal-Wallis Test pairwise comparison) of NGU trap in Nech Sar National Park was 150.4, which was significantly higher than the average rank value of biconical (95.5) and sticky trap (79.6). NGU trap also showed better performance in Maze National Park, with the average rank value of 144.2, which was significantly higher than the average rank value of biconical trap (95.2) and sticky trap (89.2). The variation between biconical and sticky traps in catching G. pallidipes was not statistically significant in the two parks (Table 2).

Table 2. Efficacy of traps in in catching G. pallidipes in Nech Sar and Maze National Parks, Southwest Ethiopia.

Tsetse collection sites
Nech Sar National Park Maze National Park
Trap models χ2 Standard error Standard test statistics P value χ2 Standard error Standard test statistics P value
Sticky versus Biconical 15.9 10.3 1.5 0.36 6.0 9.7 0.62 1.00
Sticky versus NGU 70.8 10.3 6.8 <0.001 52.1 9.7 5.4 <0.001
Biconical versus NGU 54.8 10.3 5.3 <0.001 46.0 9.7 4.7 <0.001

Traps efficacy in different vegetation types

Of the 1599 tsetse flies collected, 62% (990/1599) were caught by NGU traps, 343 (22.4%) by Biconical traps and the rest 266 (16.6%) were trapped by Sticky traps (Table 3). NGU trap was most efficient in all vegetation types, except in riverine forest. Of the 656 tsetse flies collected from WGL, 70.6% (463/656) were collected by NGU trap, followed by Biconical (21.2%). Similarly, 63.5% of the tsetse from BUL and 66% from Forest were collected by NGU trap. Sticky traps performed better in riverine forests (58.3%) compared to NGU traps (23%) and biconical traps (18.6%).

Table 3. Overall number of flies collected from different vegetation types using the three trap types in Nech Sar and Maze National Parks, Southwest Ethiopia.

Vegetation types Study sites Trap models
NGU (%) Biconical (%) Sticky (%) Total (%)
WGL Nech Sar 361(69.4) 108(20.8) 51(9.8) 520
Maze 102(75) 31(22.8) 3(2.2) 136
BUL Nech Sar 242(64.4) 82(21.8) 52(13.8) 376
Maze 21(55.3) 9(23.7) 8(21.0) 38
Forest Nech Sar 189(66.5) 64(22.5) 31(10.9) 284
Maze 29(63.0) 12(26.1) 5(10.9) 46
Riverine Nech Sar 22(16.1) 30(21.9) 85(62) 137
Maze 24(38.7) 7(11.3) 31(50.0) 62
Grand total 990 (62) 343 (22.4) 266 (16.6) 1599

The average rank value (Kruskal-Wasllis Test pairwise comparison) of NGU trap was 99.6 in WGL, followed by 80.6 in BUL, and 75.0 in forest. The lowest average rank value (34.8) was documented in riverine forest. The performance of the NGU trap was significantly higher in the WGL, BUL and forest than in the Riverine forest (Table 4). With regard to biconical trap, its average rank value was maximum (89.1) in WGL, followed by 74.4 in forest, and 69.7 in BUL. The lowest average rank value (56.7) was recorded in the riverine forest. The biconical trap showed a better performance in WGL compared to the riverine forest, and not in the other vegetation type. Unlike the other trap types, the highest average rank value of sticky trap (98.9) was recorded in the riverine forest, followed by BUL (66.4) and WGL (65.4). The lowest was recorded in forest with the average rank value of 59.3. The performance of sticky trap was significantly higher in the riverine forest than in the BUL, forest and WGL.

Table 4. Comparison of efficacy of different traps in catching G. pallidipes in different vegetation types, southwest Ethiopia.

Vegetation type NUG trap Biconical trap Sticky trap
χ2 Standard error Standard test statistics p value χ2 Standard error Standard test statistics p value χ2 Standard error Standard test statistics p value
Riverine forest versus forest 40.2 9.7 4.1 <0.001 17.6 9.4 1.8 0.37 1006 84.8 4.2 <0.001
Riverine forest versus BUL 45.8 9.7 4.7 <0.001 13.0 9.4 1.4 1.00 942.0 85.6 3.4 0.002
Riverine forest versus WGL 64.7 9.7 6.6 <0.001 32.3 9.4 3.4 0.004 947.0 85.5 3.5 0.001
Forest versus BUL 5.6 9.7 0.57 1.00 -4.6 9.4 -0.48 1.00 582.5 76.2 0.86 1.00
Forest versus WGL 24.5 9.7 2.5 0.07 14.7 9.4 1.5 0.73 595.5 76.2 0.68 1.00
BUL versus WGL 18.9 9.7 1.9 0.31 19.3 9.4 2.0 0.25 656.5 77.8 0.11 1.00

BUL = Bush land; WGL = Woody Grassland

Discussion

The results of our study indicate that the NGU trap was better at catching G. pallidipes in all vegetation types than the biconical and sticky traps. Sticky trap was more suitable for riverine forests. Our findings are consistent with a study carried out in Tanzania [17] in which the NGU trap was effective in catching G. pallidipes. The same trap was more efficient at trapping G. morsitans submorsitans in the upper valley of the Didessa River in Ethiopia [18]. NGU trap was reported as the most efficient and the suitability of the NGU trap for community interventions against tsetse fly was reported in Kenya [19]. In another study in Uganda from three trap models (Monoscreen, Pyramidal and Biconical trap), biconical trap was the second important trap next to Monoscreen for catching G. fuscipes [20] but in Burkina Faso Biconical trap was effective for G. tachinoides and G. palpalis gambiensis [21]. Though these two studies did not use sticky trap, biconical trap was effective for catching riverine tsetse species. In the current study, G. pallidipes was the most distributed species unlike those studies in Burkina and Uganda. Besides, NGU trap was not among the list of traps applied in these two previous studies.

Majority of G. pallidipes flies were collected in WGL and the lowest was in the riverine forest of the two sites. The current result is consistent with earlier studies in Nech Sar National Park [12, 22]. Similar results were reported by other studies [18, 22]. This could probably be due to the fact that WGL are suitable for the reproduction of G. pallidipes and their propagation, as WGL provides shade and humid habitats [23]. To that end, Nech Sar Park, where over 82% of tsetse flies were caught, has an annual temperature ranging from 20°C to 34°C which corresponds to the range of temperature required for the general survival and breeding of tsetse flies and for the third instar larva to fully grow or change into a pupa stage [23]. This could serve as practical evidence of the importance of climate and vegetation in determining the distribution of tsetse flies [24].

Our study found that the density of G. pallidipes was significantly higher in Nech Sar National Park compared to Maze National Park. On the other hand, the number of G. pallidipes collected in both parks was low compared with previous studies [12, 22]. This may provide a good indicator of the effectiveness of vector suppression activities in both parks. For example, four years ago, the density of G. pallidipes in Nech Sar National Park was 47.8 flies/trap/day, nearly 8 times greater than the current density [12, 22]. Tsetse fly suppression activities such as ground spaying, deployment of chemically impregnated targets, and movable/animal targets [25,26] have been implemented to control the tsetse population in both parks. These vector control activities were undertaken at the borders of Nech Sar National Park but these suppression activities were on-going in and around the Maze National Park. This could be a major reason for the low abundance of tsetse flies in Maze National Park relative to Nech Sar National Park. Making conclusions regarding the annual density of tsetse flies in the research sites may be challenging because this study was conducted over the course of six consecutive months. This is one of the limitations of this study.

Conclusions and recommendations

NGU trap was found to be the most effective trap for catching G. pallidipes in all vegetation types except in riverine forests in both parks. It was also observed that the mean fly catch was significantly higher in WGL areas than the other vegetation types. Nech Sar Park had the highest fly density when compared with the Maze National Park. This might be because of the control activities that are actively underway in and around the Maze Park, which is a good indicator to sustainably strengthen these activities until tsetse elimination is achieved in the area. G. pallidipes was the predominant species. Finally, NGU traps could be used in tsetse surveillance, monitoring and evaluation of the impact of control programs implemented in the region. This means one can easily choose NGU trap in G. pallidipes monitoring and control activities in the region.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Dr. Zerihun W/Senbet who contributed a lot providing technical and professional assistances. The greatest contribution of Mr. Aschenaki Kalissa, the head of Tsetse and Trypanasomosis Control and Investigation Centre, to facilitate the necessary field materials for field work is also highly appreciated.

Data Availability

All relevant data are within the manuscript.

Funding Statement

This work was financially supported by the Norwegian Programme for Capacity Development in Higher Education and Research for Development-Arba Minch University (ETH-13/0025). The grant recipient (FM) received no salary from the project. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

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PLoS Negl Trop Dis. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010999.r001

Decision Letter 0

Geoffrey M Attardo, Epco Hasker

1 Sep 2022

Dear Mr. Asfaw,

Thank you very much for submitting your manuscript "Evaluating the Efficacy of Various Traps in Catching Tsetse Flies at Nech Sar and Maze National Parks, Southwestern Ethiopia : An Implication for  Trypanosoma Vector Control" for consideration at PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases. As with all papers reviewed by the journal, your manuscript was reviewed by members of the editorial board and by several independent reviewers. In light of the reviews (below this email), we would like to invite the resubmission of a significantly-revised version that takes into account the reviewers' comments.

Thank you for your submission to PLoS NTDs. The reviewers felt that your manuscript was of interest, however a primary issue with the manuscript in its current form is that the choice of statistical tools utilized for the analysis was inappropriate given the data collected. The analysis should be performed using a non-parametric test as the data collected is count based. The reviewers also indicate that the manuscript requires additional proof reading to identify and correct grammatical issues. Please read through the reviewers comments and address the points raised in a revised version of the manuscript. We look forward to receiving a an updated version for evaluation.

We cannot make any decision about publication until we have seen the revised manuscript and your response to the reviewers' comments. Your revised manuscript is also likely to be sent to reviewers for further evaluation.

When you are ready to resubmit, please upload the following:

[1] A letter containing a detailed list of your responses to the review comments and a description of the changes you have made in the manuscript. Please note while forming your response, if your article is accepted, you may have the opportunity to make the peer review history publicly available. The record will include editor decision letters (with reviews) and your responses to reviewer comments. If eligible, we will contact you to opt in or out.

[2] Two versions of the revised manuscript: one with either highlights or tracked changes denoting where the text has been changed; the other a clean version (uploaded as the manuscript file).

Important additional instructions are given below your reviewer comments.

Please prepare and submit your revised manuscript within 60 days. If you anticipate any delay, please let us know the expected resubmission date by replying to this email. Please note that revised manuscripts received after the 60-day due date may require evaluation and peer review similar to newly submitted manuscripts.

Thank you again for your submission. We hope that our editorial process has been constructive so far, and we welcome your feedback at any time. Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or comments.

Sincerely,

Geoffrey M. Attardo

Academic Editor

PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases

Epco Hasker

Section Editor

PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases

***********************

Thank you for your submission to PLoS NTDs. The reviewers felt that your manuscript was of interest, however a primary issue with the manuscript in its current form is that the choice of statistical tools utilized for the analysis was inappropriate given the data collected. The analysis should be performed using a non-parametric test as the data collected is count based. The reviewers also indicate that the manuscript requires additional proof reading to identify and correct grammatical issues. Please read through the reviewers comments and address the points raised in a revised version of the manuscript. We look forward to receiving a an updated version for evaluation.

Reviewer's Responses to Questions

Key Review Criteria Required for Acceptance?

As you describe the new analyses required for acceptance, please consider the following:

Methods

-Are the objectives of the study clearly articulated with a clear testable hypothesis stated?

-Is the study design appropriate to address the stated objectives?

-Is the population clearly described and appropriate for the hypothesis being tested?

-Is the sample size sufficient to ensure adequate power to address the hypothesis being tested?

-Were correct statistical analysis used to support conclusions?

-Are there concerns about ethical or regulatory requirements being met?

Reviewer #1: The objectives are clearly articulated and the design (Latin Square) is appropriate for assessment of field responses of tsetse the traps. I am however concerned about the statistical approach employed in analysis of the data. Given that the data was discrete/count of flies (non-continuous), ANOVA is not the appropriate tool for the analysis, unless the data was transformed. Non-parametric methods would have been most appropriate.

Reviewer #2: -The objectives of the study are clearly articulated and the study design is appropriate

-The statistical analyses used were not appropriate for the type of data collected. Tsetse catches are counts and thus can not be analyzed using General Linear Models like ANOVA (which are suitable for continuous variables) without being transformed. Generalized Linear Models are more suitable for counts.

Reviewer #3: The paper is clear and very well written, and gives insight into the efficiency of different types of traps in catching tsetse flies at different areas and vegetation types. This evaluation is important because will allow to determine the real impact of control programs implemented in the region. The materials and methods are clearly indicated.

--------------------

Results

-Does the analysis presented match the analysis plan?

-Are the results clearly and completely presented?

-Are the figures (Tables, Images) of sufficient quality for clarity?

Reviewer #1: The results are well written and presented.

Reviewer #2: Due to the flawed statistical analyses indicated above, the results are unreliable.

Reviewer #3: The results reflect to the methodology are clearly presented.

--------------------

Conclusions

-Are the conclusions supported by the data presented?

-Are the limitations of analysis clearly described?

-Do the authors discuss how these data can be helpful to advance our understanding of the topic under study?

-Is public health relevance addressed?

Reviewer #1: The conclusions are appropriate and are supported by the data presented. However, the data might need to be analysed again using appropriate tool.

Reviewer #2: The conclusions could be erroneous as the results are unreliable due to the flawed statistical analysis

Reviewer #3: The results are also adequately discussed.

--------------------

Editorial and Data Presentation Modifications?

Use this section for editorial suggestions as well as relatively minor modifications of existing data that would enhance clarity. If the only modifications needed are minor and/or editorial, you may wish to recommend “Minor Revision” or “Accept”.

Reviewer #1: The results are well written and presented.

Reviewer #2: (No Response)

Reviewer #3: Minor revision

--------------------

Summary and General Comments

Use this section to provide overall comments, discuss strengths/weaknesses of the study, novelty, significance, general execution and scholarship. You may also include additional comments for the author, including concerns about dual publication, research ethics, or publication ethics. If requesting major revision, please articulate the new experiments that are needed.

Reviewer #1: The MS by Asfaw et al., present a very clear and straightforward comparative assessment of efficacy of the three different traps (Ngu, Biconical and sticky) in four ecological zones (wood grassland, bush land, forest, and riverine forest) using tried, tested and approved methods. The findings are well written and presented. I am however concerned about two major issues. First, the statistical tool used for analysis of the data (ANOVA) was inappropriately applied or should have been substituted by an non-parametric method suitable for the count data that was analysed. The second concern is the lack of novelty in the findings, given that the results only appears to confirm other results, what is already known about relative performance of these devices as captured by the authors in the discussions and elsewhere. G. pallidipes is a savannah tsetse species while G. fuscipes is riverine species, information which is well documented, and which the authors appear to confirm. Other minor concerns is that the " personal communication" in line 254 should be qualified.

Reviewer #2: The manuscript requires substantial improvement in gramma and the authors should consult a statistician for their data analysis.

Reviewer #3: This is a technical report about “Evaluating the Efficacy of Various Traps in Catching Tsetse Flies at Nech Sar and Maze National Parks, Southwestern Ethiopia : An Implication for Trypanosoma Vector Control”.

The paper is clear and very well written, and gives insight into the efficiency of different types of traps in catching tsetse flies at different areas and vegetation types. This evaluation is important because will allow to determine the real impact of control programs implemented in the region. The materials and methods are clearly indicated and the results reflect this. The results are also adequately discussed.

It is recommended that the manuscript be accepted for publication.

Some minor errors and modifications are suggested here below.

Abstract

Line 34: remove “s” to traps in “…skiny traps”

Author summary

Line 46: add “African” before “Animal trypanosomosis”

Line 46: add “agents” after “Animal trypanosomosis (Nagana) and Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT)…”

Line 47: add “In animals,” before “…The disease is arguably the main constraint, …”

Line 50: “to control the disease" which disease (HAT or AAT)? Please precise

Introduction

Line 76: remove “s” at the end of “SITs”

Line 86: put “,” after “In Ethiopia”

Materials and methods

Line 109: change “0” by “°” “…200C and 340C….”

Figure 1: Kulfo and Maze rivers must be displayed along their lengths on the map

Line 126-127: the 12 traps were deployed in each study site or each vegetation? Please clearify the sentence.

Lines 127-128: change “In the six consecutive months, a total of 72 traps per study site were deployed.” to “In the six consecutive months, a total of 72 traps were deployed per study site.”

Lines 129-130: the sentences “The type of trap used at the first trapping point in each type of vegetation was chosen at random.” has been repeated, please delete.

Line 137: for six months collection, the authors indicated that this makes possible to observe the seasonal variation in fly density.

I am not sure that this is enough to observe the seasonal variation. This will be possible if the experiments were conducted over the 12 months.

Data management and analysis

1. Authors must first test the normality of the data before comparative analyses.

2. Authors need to submit the data analysis details in Rmarkdown file to make the follow up of the data is clear and simple.

Results

Line 166: It is not possible to start a sentence with numbers, please replace write “82.7%” in letters first

Line 166: harmonize the writing of "park" in the manuscript; either "Park" or "park"

Line 170-173: these results are specific to Glossina pallidipes, please specify, since the few G. fuscipes have been collected using sticky traps

Line 174: remove “(FTD)” in the table and replace the table tittle by “Mean density of tsetse flies (Fly per tap per day) in Nech Sar and Maze National Parks, southwest Ethiopia”

Line 175: remove “FTD = Fly per tap per day”

Line 183: add standard deviations to histograms (Figure 2)

Line 185: remove “s” to “traps”

Line 188: add “s” to “type” after vegetation

Line 201: add “except in riverine forest” after “vegetation types…”

Lines 208-210: Table 3 presents results of multiple comparisons, which was not specified in the "data analysis" section

Tables 3 and 4:

1. for the column “Mean ± SE”, harmonize the number of digits after the decimal point

2. what is the unit of “Mean ± SE”??

Discussion

Delete from line 219 to line 224 because it is a repetition of the results

Line 244: change “0” by “°” “…200C and 340C….”

References

Write species names in italics

--------------------

PLOS authors have the option to publish the peer review history of their article (what does this mean?). If published, this will include your full peer review and any attached files.

If you choose “no”, your identity will remain anonymous but your review may still be made public.

Do you want your identity to be public for this peer review? For information about this choice, including consent withdrawal, please see our Privacy Policy.

Reviewer #1: Yes: Dr. Paul Mireji

Reviewer #2: No

Reviewer #3: No

Figure Files:

While revising your submission, please upload your figure files to the Preflight Analysis and Conversion Engine (PACE) digital diagnostic tool, https://pacev2.apexcovantage.com. PACE helps ensure that figures meet PLOS requirements. To use PACE, you must first register as a user. Then, login and navigate to the UPLOAD tab, where you will find detailed instructions on how to use the tool. If you encounter any issues or have any questions when using PACE, please email us at figures@plos.org.

Data Requirements:

Please note that, as a condition of publication, PLOS' data policy requires that you make available all data used to draw the conclusions outlined in your manuscript. Data must be deposited in an appropriate repository, included within the body of the manuscript, or uploaded as supporting information. This includes all numerical values that were used to generate graphs, histograms etc.. For an example see here: http://www.plosbiology.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pbio.1001908#s5.

Reproducibility:

To enhance the reproducibility of your results, we recommend that you deposit your laboratory protocols in protocols.io, where a protocol can be assigned its own identifier (DOI) such that it can be cited independently in the future. Additionally, PLOS ONE offers an option to publish peer-reviewed clinical study protocols. Read more information on sharing protocols at https://plos.org/protocols?utm_medium=editorial-email&utm_source=authorletters&utm_campaign=protocols

PLoS Negl Trop Dis. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010999.r003

Decision Letter 1

Epco Hasker

22 Nov 2022

Dear Mr. Asfaw,

Thank you very much for submitting your manuscript "Evaluating the Efficacy of Various Traps in Catching Tsetse Flies atNech Sar and Maze National Parks, Southwestern Ethiopia: An Implication for  Trypanosoma Vector Control" for consideration at PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases. As with all papers reviewed by the journal, your manuscript was reviewed by members of the editorial board and by several independent reviewers. The reviewers appreciated the attention to an important topic. Based on the reviews, we are likely to accept this manuscript for publication, providing that you modify the manuscript according to the review recommendations.

Please prepare and submit your revised manuscript within 30 days. If you anticipate any delay, please let us know the expected resubmission date by replying to this email.

When you are ready to resubmit, please upload the following:

[1] A letter containing a detailed list of your responses to all review comments, and a description of the changes you have made in the manuscript.

Please note while forming your response, if your article is accepted, you may have the opportunity to make the peer review history publicly available. The record will include editor decision letters (with reviews) and your responses to reviewer comments. If eligible, we will contact you to opt in or out

[2] Two versions of the revised manuscript: one with either highlights or tracked changes denoting where the text has been changed; the other a clean version (uploaded as the manuscript file).

Important additional instructions are given below your reviewer comments.

Thank you again for your submission to our journal. We hope that our editorial process has been constructive so far, and we welcome your feedback at any time. Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or comments.

Sincerely,

Epco Hasker

Section Editor

PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases

Epco Hasker

Section Editor

PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases

***********************

Reviewer's Responses to Questions

Key Review Criteria Required for Acceptance?

As you describe the new analyses required for acceptance, please consider the following:

Methods

-Are the objectives of the study clearly articulated with a clear testable hypothesis stated?

-Is the study design appropriate to address the stated objectives?

-Is the population clearly described and appropriate for the hypothesis being tested?

-Is the sample size sufficient to ensure adequate power to address the hypothesis being tested?

-Were correct statistical analysis used to support conclusions?

-Are there concerns about ethical or regulatory requirements being met?

Reviewer #2: -The objectives of the study are clearly articulated and the study design is appropriate.

-The statistical analysis supports the conclusion.

Reviewer #3: (No Response)

--------------------

Results

-Does the analysis presented match the analysis plan?

-Are the results clearly and completely presented?

-Are the figures (Tables, Images) of sufficient quality for clarity?

Reviewer #2: The analysis presented matched the analysis plan and the results are clearly presented.

Reviewer #3: (No Response)

--------------------

Conclusions

-Are the conclusions supported by the data presented?

-Are the limitations of analysis clearly described?

-Do the authors discuss how these data can be helpful to advance our understanding of the topic under study?

-Is public health relevance addressed?

Reviewer #2: The conclusions are supported by the data presented.

Reviewer #3: (No Response)

--------------------

Editorial and Data Presentation Modifications?

Use this section for editorial suggestions as well as relatively minor modifications of existing data that would enhance clarity. If the only modifications needed are minor and/or editorial, you may wish to recommend “Minor Revision” or “Accept”.

Reviewer #2: (No Response)

Reviewer #3: (No Response)

--------------------

Summary and General Comments

Use this section to provide overall comments, discuss strengths/weaknesses of the study, novelty, significance, general execution and scholarship. You may also include additional comments for the author, including concerns about dual publication, research ethics, or publication ethics. If requesting major revision, please articulate the new experiments that are needed.

Reviewer #2: In their manuscript, Asfaw et al. evaluate the efficacy of the NGU, Biconical and Sticky traps against different species of tsetse in different vegetation types. The contents of manuscript are of importance for tsetse vector control in Ethiopia. However, the manuscript requires to address the following issues before it can be published.

Introduction

Line 91: remove the word “big”. The authors should also consider giving a summary of the tsetse eradication program stating the control and monitoring methods being used.

Line 98: sentence starting with “It will….” should be in past tense.

Materials and methods

Line 102: consider rewriting the first sentence to “Permission to conduct the study in the National Parks was obtained from xxxxx(Park Authorities in Ethiopia).

Lines 127 to 137: the authors should clearly indicate the number of Latin Square replicates per month per site in each vegetation. This could be one of the limitations of the study and should be highlighted in the discussion. The authors should also describe the traps in more detail. For example what were dimensions of the stick trap and what material was used to make the trap stick?

Lines 138 and 143: the authors should consider combining the subheadings “Tsetse fly collection” and “Tsetse fly species identification” into one subheading “Tsetse collection and species identification”.

Line 139: should be “baited with urine”. What was the source of the urine? Was the urine fresh? How was the urine dispensed?

Lines 155 to 162: the authors should indicate how the calculated the means (lines 176 to 177) and fly densities (185 to 186) reported in the results section.

Results

Lines 166 to 170: the authors should consider indicating the actual numbers of each tsetse species collected by trap.

Line 169: write 82.7% in words

Discussion

The authors should discuss the limitation of the study.

Reviewer #3: (No Response)

--------------------

PLOS authors have the option to publish the peer review history of their article (what does this mean?). If published, this will include your full peer review and any attached files.

If you choose “no”, your identity will remain anonymous but your review may still be made public.

Do you want your identity to be public for this peer review? For information about this choice, including consent withdrawal, please see our Privacy Policy.

Reviewer #2: No

Reviewer #3: No

Figure Files:

While revising your submission, please upload your figure files to the Preflight Analysis and Conversion Engine (PACE) digital diagnostic tool, https://pacev2.apexcovantage.com. PACE helps ensure that figures meet PLOS requirements. To use PACE, you must first register as a user. Then, login and navigate to the UPLOAD tab, where you will find detailed instructions on how to use the tool. If you encounter any issues or have any questions when using PACE, please email us at figures@plos.org.

Data Requirements:

Please note that, as a condition of publication, PLOS' data policy requires that you make available all data used to draw the conclusions outlined in your manuscript. Data must be deposited in an appropriate repository, included within the body of the manuscript, or uploaded as supporting information. This includes all numerical values that were used to generate graphs, histograms etc.. For an example see here: http://www.plosbiology.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pbio.1001908#s5.

Reproducibility:

To enhance the reproducibility of your results, we recommend that you deposit your laboratory protocols in protocols.io, where a protocol can be assigned its own identifier (DOI) such that it can be cited independently in the future. Additionally, PLOS ONE offers an option to publish peer-reviewed clinical study protocols. Read more information on sharing protocols at https://plos.org/protocols?utm_medium=editorial-email&utm_source=authorletters&utm_campaign=protocols

References

Please review your reference list to ensure that it is complete and correct. If you have cited papers that have been retracted, please include the rationale for doing so in the manuscript text, or remove these references and replace them with relevant current references. Any changes to the reference list should be mentioned in the rebuttal letter that accompanies your revised manuscript. If you need to cite a retracted article, indicate the article's retracted status in the References list and also include a citation and full reference for the retraction notice.

Attachment

Submitted filename: Comments.docx

PLoS Negl Trop Dis. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010999.r005

Decision Letter 2

Epco Hasker

29 Nov 2022

Dear Mr. Asfaw,

We are pleased to inform you that your manuscript 'Evaluating the Efficacy of Various Traps in Catching Tsetse Flies at Nech Sar and Maze National Parks, Southwestern Ethiopia: An Implication for  Trypanosoma Vector Control' has been provisionally accepted for publication in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases.

Before your manuscript can be formally accepted you will need to complete some formatting changes, which you will receive in a follow up email. A member of our team will be in touch with a set of requests.

Please note that your manuscript will not be scheduled for publication until you have made the required changes, so a swift response is appreciated.

IMPORTANT: The editorial review process is now complete. PLOS will only permit corrections to spelling, formatting or significant scientific errors from this point onwards. Requests for major changes, or any which affect the scientific understanding of your work, will cause delays to the publication date of your manuscript.

Should you, your institution's press office or the journal office choose to press release your paper, you will automatically be opted out of early publication. We ask that you notify us now if you or your institution is planning to press release the article. All press must be co-ordinated with PLOS.

Thank you again for supporting Open Access publishing; we are looking forward to publishing your work in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases.

Best regards,

Epco Hasker

Section Editor

PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases

Epco Hasker

Section Editor

PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases

***********************************************************

PLoS Negl Trop Dis. doi: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010999.r006

Acceptance letter

Epco Hasker

19 Dec 2022

Dear Mr. Asfaw,

We are delighted to inform you that your manuscript, "Evaluating the Efficacy of Various Traps in Catching Tsetse Flies at Nech Sar and Maze National Parks, Southwestern Ethiopia: An Implication for  Trypanosoma Vector Control," has been formally accepted for publication in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases.

We have now passed your article onto the PLOS Production Department who will complete the rest of the publication process. All authors will receive a confirmation email upon publication.

The corresponding author will soon be receiving a typeset proof for review, to ensure errors have not been introduced during production. Please review the PDF proof of your manuscript carefully, as this is the last chance to correct any scientific or type-setting errors. Please note that major changes, or those which affect the scientific understanding of the work, will likely cause delays to the publication date of your manuscript. Note: Proofs for Front Matter articles (Editorial, Viewpoint, Symposium, Review, etc...) are generated on a different schedule and may not be made available as quickly.

Soon after your final files are uploaded, the early version of your manuscript will be published online unless you opted out of this process. The date of the early version will be your article's publication date. The final article will be published to the same URL, and all versions of the paper will be accessible to readers.

Thank you again for supporting open-access publishing; we are looking forward to publishing your work in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases.

Best regards,

Shaden Kamhawi

co-Editor-in-Chief

PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases

Paul Brindley

co-Editor-in-Chief

PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases

Associated Data

    This section collects any data citations, data availability statements, or supplementary materials included in this article.

    Supplementary Materials

    Attachment

    Submitted filename: Corrected_Line by line response to reviewers_1.docx

    Attachment

    Submitted filename: Comments.docx

    Attachment

    Submitted filename: Response.docx

    Data Availability Statement

    All relevant data are within the manuscript.


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