African trypanosomiasis sleeping

African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) and American trypanosomiasis (Chagas disease) are caused by Trypanosoma brucei and Trypanosoma cruzi, respectively. Sleeping sickness results from being bitten by the insect vector, the tsetse fly. At first there is only local lymphadenitis but about a month later generalized malaise, fever, and systemic disease involving skeletal muscle is seen. 

Kennedy PGE (2008) The continuing problem of human African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness). Ann Neurol 64 116-126... 

African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) is spread by the tsetse fly and is caused by infection with either Trypanosoma gambiense or T. rbodesiense. Suramin kills the parasites in blood and lymphoid nodes hy an unknown mechanism and Is curative early in the disease. It does not cross the blood—brain barrier and is ineffective when there is neurological involvemenl. 

Kennedy PG (2013) Clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment of human African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness). Lancet Neurol 12(2) 186-194 Krauth-Siegel LR, Comini MA, Schlecker T (2007) The trypanothione system. Subcell Biochem 44 231-251... 

The second parasitic disease we want to consider is sleeping sickness, or African trypanosomiasis, as it is also known. Sleeping sickness results from an infection by protozoa called trypanosomes that are closely related to Leishmania, and, like leishmaniasis, sleeping sickness is spread by flies. On a more general level, however, the two diseases seem quite distinct. Leishmaniasis takes several forms, only one of which is fatal, but untreated sleeping sickness invariably leads to death. Leishmaniasis is a menace in much of the... 

Conclusion. In African trypanosomiasis there is a very marked increase of the serum IgM—about 10-20 times the normal level. Estimation of the serum IgM can be regarded as a very useful test in the diagnosis of African sleeping sickness. The concentration of serum IgG is slightly raised and serum IgA is normal. In the tropics, trypanosomiasis may be regarded as one of the chief factors which contribute to secondary macroglobulinaemia. 

Human African trypanosomiasis (African sleeping sickness) around 60 million people at risk In sub-Saharan Africa, resulting annually in around 500,000 cases and 50,000 deaths. Fatal if not treated. Most drugs are old and difficult to administer. Until recently the only treatment available for the second-stage of the disease was Melarsoprol, an arsenic-based drug that kills 5 per cent of patients. 

African sleeping sickness, or African trypanosomiasis, is caused by protists (single-celled eukaryotes) called trypanosomes (Fig. 1). This disease (and related trypanosome-caused diseases) is medically and economically significant in many developing nations. Until recently, the disease was virtually incurable. Vaccines are ineffective, because the parasite has a novel mechanism to evade the host immune system. 

The minimal infective dose of the parasite needed to acquire Chagas disease is not established in humans. It is known that, for African trypanosomiasis (or sleeping sickness), the minimal infective dose is 300-450 metacyclic trypomastigotes (Alvarenga and Marsden, 1975). 

Key words Trypanosoma brucei, RNA-editing ligase 1, REL1, Human African trypanosomiasis, African sleeping sickness, TbRELl, Editosome... 

Adams JH, Haller L, Boa FY et al (1986) Human African trypanosomiasis (T.b. gambiense) a study of 16 fatal cases of sleeping sickness with some observations on acute reactive arsenical encephalopathy. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 12 81-94... 

World Health Organization (WHO) (2001). African trypanosomiasis or sleeping sickness. 259 World Health Organ Fact Sheet, http //www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs259/en/. 

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