CURRENT NOTES. 181 
Glossina brevipalpis as a probable vector of trypanosomiasis of Cattle 
in Nyasaland. 
With reference to a remark by Dr. Meredith Sanderson (Bull. Ent. Res. I, 
p. 302) that large herds of cattle remain healthy in North Nyasa in the presence 
of G. brevipalpis, Dr. J. B. Davey writes :— In 1905 the Government made 
the experiment of keeping two head of cattle at Masinjiri’s, in the Elephant 
Marsh, 18 miles from Chiromo, where (. brevipalpis was abundant. As these 
cattle died they were replaced by others from Chiromo, where there was no 
cattle-disease and no Glossina. I paid a visit to Masinjiri’s on the 27th July, 
1905, and found that a young bull which had been there about three months, had 
asmall number of trypanosomes in its blood ; it was reported dead two days 
later. At the same visit I examined the second animal there, but found no 
trypanosomes, as it had only been there two days. I went again on the 
9th October, and found trypanosomes in a young bull which died on the 
17th October. On the 18th December, 1905, the sole surviving beast at 
Masinjiri’s was brought back to Chiromo, and the experiment terminated ; its 
blood showed fairly numerous trypanosomes and it died ten days later. 
“The experiment had been carried on for some time before my arrival at 
Chiromo, but no observations were made beyond reporting the deaths as they 
occurred, and I cannot say how many cattle died altogether. So far as I can 
remember, they used to get sick about two months after being sent to Masinjiri’s. 
G. brevipalpis was constantly found at this place while the experiment was being 
made,* About the same time I found a very few trypanosomes in the blood of 
a buffalo which I shot two or three miles out of Chiromo ; these buftalo wander 
about and almost certainly visit Masinjiri’s. Irom the above observations I 
think it would be rash to say that cattle remain healthy when exposed to 
G. brevipalpis.” 
Dr. Davey also states that Dr. Sanderson appears to have been mistaken in 
saying that there had been a case of sleeping sickness in North Nyasa, as there 
is no official record to that effect. As regards the transmission of cattle-disease 
by G. brevipalpis, it may be noted that Mr. Austen (Handbook of the Tsetse- 
flies, p. 91) cites Stuhlmann to the effect that this species is the chief disseminator 
of Tsetse-fly disease among domestic animals in the German East African 
littoral, at any rate. It is possible that Dr. Sanderson’s observations may 
indicate that the game in the district between Karonga and the Songwe River is 
practically free from trypanosomes, in which case it would not be a source of 
danger to stock even in the presence of Glossina.t Further, Mr. S. A. Neave 
has recently taken G. brevipalpis inland in German East Africa at the Baka 
River, on the main road between Mwaya and New Langenburg; and again, 
Oo? 
* [Up to the present G’. brevipalpis is the only species of tsetse which has been recorded from 
the Elephant Marsh.—Ed. ] 
t [Since the above was written we have been informed by Dr. H. S. Stannus that there have 
been cases of trypanosomiasis quite recently among the cattle in the district referred to. No 
specimens of G'. morsitans have been received as yet from this area,— Ed. ] 
20419 G 
