Assessing Vulnerability of Maasai Communities in Tanzania to African Trypanosomiais Paul Gwakisa

Why this project This project focuses on Maasai people in northern Tanzania and their vulnerability to African trypanosomiasis; Vulnerability of Maasai people is shaped by their lifestyle and geographical locations in intensive human-livestock –wildlife interface settings, where many disease vectors, such as infected tsetse flies are abundant;

Where we work The Maasai steppe has unique social and environmental factors; as well as land cover/use and climate changes, which force the Maasai people to alter their lifestyle. For example, communities are becoming more residential, or moving to areas where they interact with wildlife. This increases vulnerability to Human and Animal African trypanosomiasis.

Our Research Aims and Objectives Our main objective is to understand how various environmental factors, especially changes in climate and land cover/land use influence current tsetse fly and trypanosomiasis distribution in the Maasai steppe. By combining this knowledge with predictions for climate change and land cover we will be able to point out where future hotspots of infection are likely to occur. Furthermore, by working with local Maasai communities we can ascertain their knowledge of trypanosomiasis and hence design with them adaptation methods both to the disease and to climate variability.

Tsetse Fly Abundance and Infection rates Climate Land Use / Land Cover Local Knowledge on Climate and Disease Maasai Steppe Ecology Disease at Wildlife –Livestock interface Our Research Approach Eco-Health Approach to enhance Resilience of Maasai communities

Emboreet village map showing tsetse fly trapping sites. Data collected: Number of tsetse flies/trap; sex, age, and location using a Global Positioning System (GPS). Daily max and min temperatures were extracted from African Flood and Drought Monitor website for each trap site GPS point.

Seasonal variation in abundance of tsetse fly species over 14 months and the concomitant change in temperature observed during 2014/2015 at Emboreet village

Seasonal variation in climate and abundance of Tsetse fly species in the Maasai Steppe Three species of tsetse flies were identified, in order of relative abundance: G. swynertonni, G.m.morsitan and G.pallidipes with relative percentages at 70.8%, 23.4% and 5.8% respectively. Seasonal changes in species’ abundance and some months were positively correlated (abundance for all three species). Maximum temperature effect negatively correlated with the relative abundance of G.pallidipes and G.m. morsitan, while month maximum temperature interaction caused negative effect on abundance of G.swynertonni. Interaction of month and minimum temperature yielded significant negative relations with G.pallidies and G. m.morsitan and insignificant with G.swynertonni. The established seasonal abundance can be used to simulate future abundance of tsetse flies species and inform tsetse fly control strategies.

Relative abundance of tsetse fly species amongst habitats in relation to vegetation in the Maasai Steppe G. morsitans and G.swynnertoni exhibited similar abundance patterns across habitats. In riverine habitat, Glossina pallidipes was significantly more abundant. Highest tsetse catches were recorded in the woodland-swampy ecotone habitat and the lowest in riverine habitat

Table: Linear mixed effect models between abundance of tsetse fly species as response variable (a) G.swynnertoni (b) G.Morsitans (c) G.pallidipes and host species as explanatory variable, as site is taken as a random factor.

Engaging with Communities Vulnerability study / Social survey aided us to understand knowledge, attitudes and perception of the Maasai communities. Through participatory epidemiology and vulnerability assessment using focus group discussion and household survey we acquired data on adaptation to climate, land use, livestock grazing patterns and trypanosomiasis.

The Vicious Circle in the Maasai Steppe Climate changes Land Use / Cover Changes Tsetse fly infection s Wildlife- Animal- Human Interactions

Temporal distribution of trypanosome infections in tsetse flies, with high peaks of infections in October 2014 and June % as overall prevalence of trypanosomes in tsetse flies with the highest village prevalence in Loiborsiret (November 2014) and Emboreet villages (June 2015).

Livelihood of Maasai people is directly intertwined with the health of their cattle Vulnerability of the Maasai people to African trypanosomiasis is directly related not only to abundance of tsetse flies but also to risk of their cattle, which also serve as reservoirs of trypanosome parasites.

Trypanosomiasis is an endemic, zoonotic, neglected disease in the vulnerable Maasai communities of northern Tanzania Analysis of 1000 DNA samples from cattle blood collected between June 2015 and February 2016 revealed prevalence of trypanosome infections in cattle to be 17.2% (ranging from 12.06%-25%). Of this 5% of the infected cattle carried T. brucei, which may potentially be human infective

Temporal variation – with highest prevalence of trypanosomes in Kimotorok village (20.5%. near Tarangire National park) 18% in Loiborsiret and 12.1% in Emboreet. Trypanosomes of importance, by order of abundance were T. vivax, T. congolense, T. brucei, detected in both cattle and tsetse flies. None was human-infective so far.

Tsetse fly feeding preference Sequencing of DNA from blood meals of caught flies revealed presence of diverse host DNA including Homo sapiens (Human), Struthio camelus (African Ostrich) and Syncerus caffer (African buffalo) DNA. (sequences not shown here)

From the Lab to Communities Shifting from data generation to data communication to various stakeholders. August 2016 onwards – feed back meetings through Maasai elders and local tribal leaders to develop / adapt community adaptation strategies. October onwards – communication to district-, regional- and ministry– level stakeholders (through partner institutions, NIMR, NMAIST, SUA)

Demand expressed by communities Demand for tsetse fly traps for vector and disease control Demand for feed back of infection hotspots in order to plan livestock grazing areas Demand for community engagements and educational materials

Our research will raise hopes, education and health of many children in remote Maasai pastoral communities in Tanzania Capacity building through this project: 2 PhD and 3 MSc students

Thank you