What causes trypanosomiasis?
African Trypanosomiasis, also known as “sleeping sickness”, is caused by microscopic parasites of the species Trypanosoma brucei. It is transmitted by the tsetse fly (Glossina species), which is found only in sub-Saharan Africa.
What are the symptoms of trypanosomiasis?
Fever, severe headaches, irritability, extreme fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, and aching muscles and joints are common symptoms of sleeping sickness. Some people develop a skin rash. Progressive confusion, personality changes, and other neurologic problems occur after infection has invaded the central nervous system.
Why is African trypanosomiasis called sleeping sickness?
African trypanosomiasis is a parasitic disease transmitted by the tsetse fly. It gets its nickname ‘sleeping sickness’ because symptoms can include a disturbed sleep pattern.
Who discovered sleeping sickness?
2) discovered T. brucei as the cause of cattle trypanosomiasis (cattle nagana) [16]. The first unequivocal observation of trypanosomes in human blood was made by the British Colonial surgeon Robert Michael Forde (1861–1948) in 1901 when he examined a steamboat captain in The Gambia [17].
How do you treat patients who have trypanosomiasis?
The acute phase of trypanosomiasis (Chagas disease) is treated with nifurtimox or benznidazole. Cases of congenital Chagas disease have been successfully treated with either drug. A single case of successful treatment of an adult with posaconazole (after failure of therapy with benznidazole) has been reported.
Which species of Trypanosoma is not a human pathogen?
Trypanosoma brucei brucei (as well as related species T. equiperdum and T. evansi) is not human infective because it is susceptible to innate immune system ‘trypanolytic’ factors present in the serum of some primates, including humans.
Is Trypanosoma a worm?
among red blood cells. Trypanosoma is a genus of kinetoplastids (class Trypanosomatidae), a monophyletic group of unicellular parasitic flagellate protozoa.