Trypansoma brucei gambiense and rhodesiense

Trypanosoma brucei gambiense and rhodesiense

• 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.

Transmission and Diagnosis

• 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.

Symptoms and Characteristics

• 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.

Treatment

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

Antigenic Variation

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

Parasite Characteristics

• Trypanosoma brucei is a motile parasite with a single flagella.