Trypansoma brucei gambiense and rhodesiense

Questions and Answers

Tick

Tsetse fly (correct)

Mosquito

Flea

Intermittent low-grade fever

Constant high fever

Recurring fevers (correct)

Fever only at night

It's not possible to determine

Gambiense causes more rapid progression

Both have similar progression

Rhodesiense causes more rapid progression (correct)

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Study Notes

Trypanosoma brucei is a parasite that causes sleeping sickness, transmitted through the bite of the tsetse fly vector, which is found in Africa.
There are two subspecies: T. b. gambiense, which causes West African sleeping sickness, and T. b. rhodesiense, which causes East African sleeping sickness.

After biting, the parasites move from the blood to lymph nodes, causing cervical and axillary lymphadenopathy.
Diagnosis is made by identifying trypomastigotes on a blood smear, typically from a finger tip.

Sleeping sickness is a problem of the central nervous system (CNS) and spinal fluid.
Recurrent fevers, also known as rolling undulating fevers, are a characteristic symptom.
T. b. gambiense causes a more chronic illness, with symptoms including intermittent spiking fever, lymphadenopathy, and disruption of circadian rhythm.
T. b. rhodesiense has a more rapid progression, with symptoms including a painful bite site, intermittent fever, and disruption of circadian rhythm.

Melarsoprol is used to treat CNS infections, while Suramin is used to treat blood infections.

The parasite has a multicolor coat, representing variable surface glycoproteins, which undergo constant antigenic variation, leading to recurrent fevers.