Question

after a particularly warm and wet summer, there is a spike in the population of tsetse flies in a rural sub - saharan village. many of the inhabitants begin to complain of fever and aching muscles. what might be the cause of their suffering? the increase in tsetse flies has created more insect vectors for the kinetoplastid trypanosoma brucei, resulting in more individuals struck by the sleeping sickness. an increase in trypanosoma brucei has provided the tsetse fly with an additional food supply, and the flies are now able to multiply more rapidly and bite more individuals. tsetse flies thrive on blood meals; their increase is a result of feeding on immunocompromised individuals. tsetse fly larvae attract water molds, resulting in contamination of the water supply and subsequent infection of humans by oomycete pathogens. none of the above; the presence of the kinetoplastid trypanosoma brucei is not related to the increase in the number of people suffering from the symptoms described.

Explanation:

Tsetse flies transmit Trypanosoma brucei which causes sleeping sickness. An increase in tsetse - fly population can lead to more people being infected with the pathogen, causing symptoms like fever and muscle - aches. Tsetse flies thrive on blood meals and their increase can be due to factors like more available hosts. Tsetse fly larvae attracting water molds and contamination by oomycete pathogens are not directly related to the increase in human suffering from Trypanosoma brucei - related symptoms.

Answer:

The increase in tsetse flies has created more insect vectors for the kinetoplastid Trypanosoma brucei, resulting in more individuals struck by the sleeping sickness.