African Trypanosomiasis
African trypanosomiasis
1 Summary
Difference between Gambian (western) and Rhodesian (eastern) trypanosomiasis
Restricted to well defined regions in Africa, determined by tsetse fly vectors
Early stage: transient sore, fever, oedema, lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly
Late stage: central nervous system abnormalities, abnormal cerebrospinal fluid
Diagnosis: always try to detect the parasite
Repeated thick smears, Buffy coat, mini anion exchange column technique (mAECT)
Lumbar puncture, lymph node aspiration
Indirect: serology (CATT), clinical evidence
Difficult to treat: Pentamidine, Suramin, Arsobal, Eflornitine
Importance of early diagnosis and follow-up
2 General
African sleeping sickness is caused by infection with a unicellular parasite. There are two subspecies of these parasites: the West African or Trypanosoma brucei gambiense and the East African or T. brucei rhodesiense. They cannot be differentiated from each other on morphological grounds. There are subspecies, which is a bit confusing. Trypanosoma brucei gambiense type 1 is genetically distinct from T. b. brucei en T. b. rhodesiense. T. b. gambiense type 2 resembles T. b. brucei.
Transmission takes place through the bite of an infected tsetse fly (Glossina). [Since they are transmitted via tsetse saliva, they are also known as "salivaria", as opposed to Trypanosoma cruzi, which belongs to the "stercoraria" because it is transmitted via the faeces of a bug]. In exceptional cases mechanical transmission takes place via other biting flies (tabanids). Congenital infections are rare. Sexual transmission seems to be extremely rare.
Cd_1044_054c.jpg
African trypanosomiasis or sleeping sickness occurs exclusively in Africa. The area of distribution lies between 14 north of the Equator and 29 south of the Equator. It occurs locally in 36 countries, with a collective population at risk of about 50 million people. There are some 200 areas where the infection is concentrated. The areas of
1 Summary
Difference between Gambian (western) and Rhodesian (eastern) trypanosomiasis
Restricted to well defined regions in Africa, determined by tsetse fly vectors
Early stage: transient sore, fever, oedema, lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly
Late stage: central nervous system abnormalities, abnormal cerebrospinal fluid
Diagnosis: always try to detect the parasite
Repeated thick smears, Buffy coat, mini anion exchange column technique (mAECT)
Lumbar puncture, lymph node aspiration
Indirect: serology (CATT), clinical evidence
Difficult to treat: Pentamidine, Suramin, Arsobal, Eflornitine
Importance of early diagnosis and follow-up
2 General
African sleeping sickness is caused by infection with a unicellular parasite. There are two subspecies of these parasites: the West African or Trypanosoma brucei gambiense and the East African or T. brucei rhodesiense. They cannot be differentiated from each other on morphological grounds. There are subspecies, which is a bit confusing. Trypanosoma brucei gambiense type 1 is genetically distinct from T. b. brucei en T. b. rhodesiense. T. b. gambiense type 2 resembles T. b. brucei.
Transmission takes place through the bite of an infected tsetse fly (Glossina). [Since they are transmitted via tsetse saliva, they are also known as "salivaria", as opposed to Trypanosoma cruzi, which belongs to the "stercoraria" because it is transmitted via the faeces of a bug]. In exceptional cases mechanical transmission takes place via other biting flies (tabanids). Congenital infections are rare. Sexual transmission seems to be extremely rare.
Cd_1044_054c.jpg
African trypanosomiasis or sleeping sickness occurs exclusively in Africa. The area of distribution lies between 14 north of the Equator and 29 south of the Equator. It occurs locally in 36 countries, with a collective population at risk of about 50 million people. There are some 200 areas where the infection is concentrated. The areas of