AHI is a specialized national structure under which one Deputy Director General (DDG) of tsetse and trypanosomosis (T&T) research is appointed. The DDG is responsible for supervising and coordinating overall T&T research, control and elimination activities in Ethiopia. The most commonly used tsetse control techniques of conventional technologies at field level include insecticide treated cattle (ITC), insecticide treated targets (ITT), traps, ground spray (GS) and Sterile Insect Technique (SIT). The vector control efforts were intended to reduce and, where possible, interrupt the cycle of transmission of the disease from infected animals to healthy animals. Additionally, curative chemotherapy and prophylactic measures are applied to curb the impact of disease.

The institute has five branch offices strategically located at Arba Minch, Bedele, Finote Selam, Assosa and Kality. These centers are:

1. Arba Minch Animal Health Research Center (AAHRC)
2. Bedele Animal Health Research Center (BAHRC)
3. Finote Selam Animal Health Research Center (FAHRC)
4. Asossa Animal Health Research Center (AAHRC)
5. Kality Tsetse Flies Research Center (KTRC)

Tsetse flies are economically important vectors not only from veterinary perspective but also from public health point of view. They transmit African Animal Trypanososmosis (AAT) in more than 38 African countries particularly Sub-Saharan Africans, including Ethiopia and also they are implicated as transmitters of human sleeping sickness. An area estimated to 200,000 to 240,000 km2 (18% of the total land surface area) is affected by tsetse flies in Ethiopia. Tsetse flies are classified under Glossina. There are five species of tsetse flies distributed along the lowlands of Southwestern, Western and Northwestern parts of Ethiopia. Glossina morsitans sub-morsitans, G. pallidipes, G.fuscipes fuscipes and G. tachnoides are economically most important species while G. longipennis has a minor economic importance and less distributed.

In Ethiopia, there are five economically important animal trypanosome species. These are Trypanosoma congolense, T. vivax, T. brucei brucei, T. evansi and T. equiperdum. The trypanosomes that are pathogenic to livestock (T. congolense, T. vivax and T. brucei) are cyclically transmitted by tsetse flies. T. vivax and T. evansi can also be mechanically transmitted by biting flies such as Tabanids and Stomoxys and affects camels, equines, and other domestic and wild animals in pastoral area of Ethiopia. However, Τ. equiperdum is the only known trypanosome that is not spread by a vector  and affects horses and other animals in the family equidae.  

In Ethiopia, trypanosomosis is one of the most important disease limiting livestock productivity and agricultural development due to its high prevalence in the most arable and fertile land of Southwest, West and Northwest part of the country. The disease occurrence in these areas usually follows with the infestation of tsetse flies along the greater river basins of Abay, Omo, Ghibe, Didessa, Akobo and Baro rivers as well as the rift valley ecology that are known with a high potential for agricultural development. The impact of the disease on livestock production is significant and large areas of affected land are underutilized and left with few cattle and other livestock. The direct impact of the problem has attributed to the reduction of calving rates, increased calf mortality, reduced milk production, reduced herd meat output, reduced cattle population and reduced traction power. The indirect impact of the disease mostly lies on loss of crop production through the availability and cost of animals that provide traction power. Also the disease reduces work efficiency of oxen and discourages the introduction of drought animals in to crop farming.

Benefits gained from T&T control

• Areas affected with T&T were either completely or partially accessed or available for livestock-crop production and other development activities.
• The majority of farmers in the intervention areas have managed to raise different types and categories of livestock. Areas that had no donkeys before the intervention have managed to keep a herd of donkeys which provided various transportation services.
• They also used animal manure as a fertilizer for crop production.
• Almost all farmers have managed to have at least two drought oxen to plough their plot of land. Healthy and energetic drought animals are kept which could work from 6-8 hours a day.
• Farmers/pastoralists have saved most of their time and money which they usually spend on taking animals to veterinary clinics for examination and treatment.
• Daily Milk production increased.
• The body condition of animals improved which increased the meat output.
• Insecticides (pour-on) application on the animals has improved the coat and hair appearance due to the avoidance of nuisance imposed.60 by tsetse flies
• The number of animals visiting clinic and animal deaths due to trypanosomosis showed significant.

Our next plan:

1. Understand the performance of existing T&T control tools and strategies and modify, as required, to improve their cost, efficiency, and environmental and social impact.
2. Understand tsetse population dynamics and interaction of tsetse population in different localities.
3. Adopt/develop and implement more efficient diagnostic tools for detection of trypanosome infections, detection of trypanocidal drugs and insecticides resistance as well as determination of vectoral capacity of tsetse flies.
4. Develop a more thorough understanding of tsetse mass rearing and strategy that could improve the performance of SIT and quality control system as well as efficient use of SIT.
5. Engage the community in all efforts to control T&T problem.
6. Work in collaboration with neighbouring countries to combat the problem as the problem remains trans-boundary.
7. Strengthen the collaboration with international partners.