Résumé
The West African trypanosomoses are mostly transmitted by riverine species
of tsetse fly . In this study, we estimate the dispersal and population
size of tsetse populations located along the Mouhoun River in Burkina Faso
where tsetse habitats are experiencing increasing fragmentation caused by
human encroachment. Dispersal estimated through direct (mark and
recapture) and indirect (genetic isolation by distance) methods appeared
consistent with one another. In these fragmented landscapes, tsetse flies
displayed localised, small sub-populations with relatively short effective
dispersal. We discuss how such information is crucial for designing
optimal strategies for eliminating this threat. To estimate ecological
parameters of wild animal populations, the genetic measures are both a
cost- and time-effective alternative to mark-release-recapture. They can
be applied to other vector-borne diseases of medical and/or economic
importance.