Trypanosomiasis (African sleeping sickness)

African sleeping sickness, transmitted by the tsetse fly, has been a major impediment to the social and economic development of Central and East Africa. With the use of modern drugs, insecticides, and other control methods, this disease was effectively controlled in most countries by the mid-1960s. In the past 20 years, however, major epidemics have occurred in East and Central Africa, mainly because control programs were disrupted by war

Protozoan hemoflagellates belonging to the complex Trypanosoma brucei is the agent for trypanosomiasis

Manifestations: A trypanosomal chancre can develop on the site of inoculation. This is followed by a haemolymphatic stage with symptoms that include :

Fever
Swollen lymph nodes
Headaches
Somnolence
Abnormal behaviour
Loss of consciousness
Coma.

Diagnose and treatment: Diagnose is demonstrated by blood test. Specific therapy is not available.

Prevent trypanosomiasis by:

Wear protective clothing, including long-sleeved shirts and pants. The tsetse fly can bite through thin fabrics, so clothing should be made of thick material.
Wear khaki or olive coloured clothing. The tsetse fly is attracted to both bright and very dark colours.
Use insect repellent. Though insect repellents have not proven effective in preventing tsetse fly bites, they are effective in preventing other insects from biting and causing illness.
When sleeping, use bednets.
Inspect vehicles for tsetse flies before entering.
Don’t ride in the back of jeeps, pickup trucks or other open vehicles. The tsetse fly is attracted to the dust that moving vehicles and wild animals create.
Avoid bushes. The tsetse fly is less active during the hottest period of the day. It rests in bushes but may bite if disturbed.

Sleeping sickness Resource:

Factors affecting the propensity of tsetse flies to enter houses and attack humans inside: increased risk of sleeping sickness in warmer climates.

PLoS Negl Trop Dis

Socio-economic and cultural determinants of human african trypanosomiasis at the kenya - Uganda transboundary.

PLoS Negl Trop Dis

False positivity of non-targeted infections in malaria rapid diagnostic tests: the case of human african trypanosomiasis.

PLoS Negl Trop Dis

Trypanosome infection establishment in the tsetse fly gut is influenced by microbiome-regulated host immune barriers.

PLoS Pathog

A Single Amino Acid Substitution in the Group 1 Trypanosoma brucei gambiense Haptoglobin-Hemoglobin Receptor Abolishes TLF-1 Binding.

PLoS Pathog

Product feedback regulation implicated in translational control of the Trypanosoma brucei S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase regulatory subunit prozyme.

Mol Microbiol

Potent Anti-trypanosomal Activities of Hsp90 Inhibitors in Vitro and in Vivo.

J Infect Dis

Total Synthesis, Stereochemical Assignment, and Biological Activity of Chamuvarinin and Structural Analogues.

Chemistry

Rapid diagnostic tests for neurological infections in central Africa.

Lancet Infect Dis

Biochemical characterization of highly active Trypanosoma brucei gambiense glycerol kinase, a promising drug target.

J Biochem

The Inhibition of Rhodesain as a Novel Therapeutic Modality for Human African Trypanosomiasis.

J Med Chem

Expert knowledge sourcing for public health surveillance: National tsetse mapping in Uganda.

Soc Sci Med

Kinase scaffold repurposing for neglected disease drug discovery: Discovery of an efficacious, lapatanib-derived lead compound for trypanosomiasis.

J Med Chem

Induced Resistance to Methionyl-tRNA Synthetase Inhibitors in Trypanosoma brucei is Due to Overexpression of the Target.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother

Designing Novel Inhibitors of Trypanosoma brucei.

Methods Mol Biol

Potential Mechanism of the Anti-trypanosomal Activity of Organoruthenium Complexes with Bioactive Thiosemicarbazones.

Biol Trace Elem Res

Novel amidines and analogues as promising agents against intracellular parasites: a systematic review.

Parasitology

The nuclear mRNA export receptor Mex67-Mtr2 of Trypanosoma brucei contains a unique and essential zinc finger motif.

Mol Microbiol

Serum Arginase, a biomarker of treatment efficacy in human African trypanosomiasis.

J Clin Microbiol

Secreted proteases of Trypanosoma brucei gambiense: Possible targets for sleeping sickness control?

Biofactors

First

Last

Jump:

To top Back to list of diseases • Home

TraveldoctorOnline 2001 • Disclaimer • webmaster

The contents within traveldoctoronline are presented only for informational purposes and cannot substitute for professional health care or any other medical treatment.All users of this website with health problems should be oblige always to consult their medical doctor before starting any treatment.