When did we relate tsetse to trypanosomiasis?
African cattle owners learned long ago from experience, that there was a link between biting flies and the spread of trypanosomiasis or nagana in their stock. The link between the tsetse fly and trypanosomiasis was first formally established by David Bruce working in what is now KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. David Bruce David Bruce was born in Melbourne, Australia, but grew up in Britain and joined the British army’s medical service. In 1894, Bruce was sent to Natal to investigate an outbreak of nagana in northern Zululand. David Bruce gave a vivid description of nagana: “The horse stares, he has a watery discharge from his eyes and nose. Shortly afterwards a slight swelling of the belly and puffiness of the sheath may be noticed, and the animal falls off in condition. The hind extremities also tend to become swollen; and these various swellings fluctuate, one day being less marked, or having disappeared. During this time the animal is becoming more and more emaciated, he looks dull and
