[Tsetse and livestock in Central African Republic: retreat of Glossina morsitans submorsitans (Diptera, Glossinidae)].

In the early 1960s, the most part of the Central African Republic was located inside the distribution area of Glossina morsitans submorsitans Newst. Since the last distribution studies of this tsetse in CAR (in 1963), the number of cattle has increased from 400,000 to approximately two millions, mainly of the Mbororo zebu breed. To set up the present distribution of G. m. submorsitans a study by trapping has been carried out in 27 livestock areas, regarding about 1,200 pastoralists' settlements. Furthermore, north-south transects have been made using both trapping (with bipyramidal traps laid every 2,000 meters) and net-catching (within a car driving slowly). The result have shown the disappearance of G. m. submorsitans from the main livestock areas in the west (Bouar, Bozoum, Bocaranga, Batangafo, Bossangoa, Paoua), centre (Bossembélé, Bouca, Dékoa) and east (Bambari, Grimari, Ippy). The southern border of the distribution area has been moved upwards to the north by up to 400 kilometres in the west of the country. This important retreat is discussed. It leads to a huge increase in the pastures available for the Mbororo pastoralists. Their access is still restricted in the centre-north and in the east by wild game reserves where G. m. submorsitans remains.