Tsetse flies are vectors of trypanosomes transmitting the disease called Nagana in cattle and sleeping sickness in human [1]. Both sexes of all tsetse species feed on the blood of vertebrate animals. The flies infected by ingesting blood meal from an infected host and remains infected for life transmitting the parasite to other animals on subsequent feeding. As a result, tsetse transmitted trypanosomosis remained a major burden on Africa and probably the single greatest health constraint to increased livestock productivity in sub-Saharan Africa [2]. The limitation on health, food production and even survival, and denied access to fertile arable land exacerbated the severity of tsetse and trypanosomosis problem and food insecurity in Africa in general and Ethiopian in particular. The overcrowding of cattle and people in tsetse free areas remained a great challenge for both good land use practices and long-term community development activities [3]. In general, tsetse and trypanosomosis are the major factors preventing the establishment of sustainable agricultural systems in sub-Saharan Africa. Therefore, the main tsetse and trypanosomosis control methods and future impact of the disease were discussed in this short review article as much as possible.

Efforts have been made using various techniques directed on the parasite and the vector. Tsetse control methods have evolved from game animal destruction and bush clearing, which mainly targeted on the removal of the source of food and shade, at the beginning of the 20^th century to insecticide spraying following the discovery of DDT, in the 1940s. The insecticides were applied to the tsetse habitat either from the ground or from the air [1].  However, despite the success of the techniques in reducing tsetse population and disease transmission, they have been largely discarded for ecological and environmental reasons [4].  Currently, odour baited traps and targets, live bait (insecticide sprayed cattle), ground spray, and Sequential Aerosol Technique (SAT) have been widely used throughout Africa, despite their specific limitations [5]. The control methods have been used successfully with dramatic reductions in tsetse population sizes and benefiting the community in various ways. However, the suppressed tsetse fly populations recover from residual pockets and/ or re-invade from neighbouring infested areas, due to the absence of sustained control efforts and protection of cleared areas.

Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) considered as another means to control tsetse and mop-up the remaining population over left from chemical control. It involves sustained and systematic release of sterile males, at regular intervals to achieve eradication of the target population [6]. Tsetse flies are ideal insects for SIT because of their low natural fecundity and poor potential for population recovery.  The technique is species specific and requires the production of large numbers of the target species for release in order to achieve an over flooding ratio sufficient to cause a decline and final eradication of the target species [7].

More successful tsetse eradication with SIT achieved on the Island of Unguja, Zanzibar, East Africa, where there is only one vector of trypanosomes, G. austeni  [8]. This was followed by an extensive campaign in Ethiopia against G. pallidipes in the southern Rift Valley.  The SIT operation requires colony build-up and mass rearing of the target species. In this regard, tsetse fly colonies have been built at several places and the rearing systems vary greatly in their sophistication, from manual to automation [9]. In Ethiopia, the mass rearing of two species of tsetse flies (G.fuscipesand G.pallidipes) is taking place in Kaliti Tsetse mass rearing and Irradiation centre.

However, more of these efforts are still going on Animal trypanosomosis is still one of the major constraints to animal health and production in Ethiopia and has a major impact on people’s livelihoods. The annual estimated direct and indirect losses due to the disease run into billions of dollars [10]. The fight against the disease is either managed by the control of the vector or of the parasite or a combination of both but in poor rural communities, which are mostly affected by the disease, control is mainly relying on the use of trypanocidal drugs [11]. The main drugs used by livestock keepers are Isometamidium chloride (ISM) which has both curative and prophylactic effects and Dimanazine Aceturate which has only curative properties. These drugs have been in use for more than half a century now estimated that ,35 million doses of trypanocides are administered every year in sub- Saharan Africa, with ISM, Ethidium bromide and DA representing 40%, 26% and 33% respectively [12]. The high costs of developing such compounds make it unlikely that new trypanocides will be marketed in the near future unless they act against a broad range of protozoan parasites until new trypanocides are developed, the efficacy of the compounds in current use must be maintained to keep domestic livestock healthy in the extensive areas where trypanosomiasis is endemic [13].

The chemical control methods including odour baited traps and targets, live bait (insecticide sprayed cattle), ground spray, and Sequential Aerosol Technique (SAT) have been used successfully with dramatic reductions in tsetse population sizes and benefiting the community in various ways. However, to achieve tsetse and trypanosomosis eradication these chemical methods must be coordinated with sterile insect technique (SIT) in scientifically calculated manner. Furthermore, the future impact of the disease (trypanosomosis) was highly complicate with the emergence of drug resistance that currently available trypanocidal drugs are not effective against the pathogen.