Abstract
Tsetse flies, also known as Glossines, are vectors of trypanosomes, the causative agents of sleeping sickness in humans and Nagana in animals. Their habitat is located in sub-Saharan Africa, mainly in savannahs (gallery forests) and humid forests, under specific physical and climatic conditions. Therefore, breeding them in insectariums poses a real challenge.At the CIRAD insectarium platform in Baillarguet (Montpellier, France; https://doi.org/10.18167/ infrastructure/00001) member of the Vectopole Sud network ), three colonies of Glossina from the Palpalis group are raised: Glossina palpalis gambiensis, Glossina palpalis palpalis, and Glossina fuscipes fuscipes, under controlled temperature and humidity conditions. Moreover, tsetse flies are strictly hematophagous for both sexes, which represents an additional difficulty for their breeding. Until May 2018, the colonies were fed on rabbits. In line with the 3Rs (“Replace, Reduce, Refine”) rule in animal experimentation, we have implemented a new artificial feeding protocol using a membrane with sheep blood. The artificial feeding device consists of a heating device (maintaining a temperature of 37°C for the blood meal), an aluminum plate of 49x49 cm², and a 46x46 cm silicone membrane 1 mm thick that mimics the host’s skin. For flies feeding, 200 ml of blood is spread on the plate and covered by the membrane. The cages are placed on the membrane, and the device allows feeding around 600 flies simultaneously.The entire breeding protocol has also been revised to improve and simplify the work, particularly the adult sorting system (separation of sexes). Tsetse flies are now anesthetized with cold, under strictly controlled conditions to facilitate and secure handling.The insectarium houses a minimum of 800 to 1000 female individuals of each strain and can increase production according to demand of partners for research and teaching.