Trypanosoma brucei gambiense/rhodesiense

MICROBIOLOGY

• Protozoan hemoflagellate, agent of human African sleeping sickness.
• Trypanosoma brucei complex of which two subspecies exist:
  
  • T. b. gambiense causes West African sleeping sickness
  • T. b. rhodesiense causes East African sleeping sickness
• Trypanosomes, zoonotic infection of cattle and other animals, transmitted by the painful bite of TseTse fly (Fig 1, not preventable with DEET) usually in rural African locales.
  • Trypanosoma brucei gambiense (g-HAT): humans only known significant reservoir, hence efforts for eradication.
    • Other modes of transmission possible: but probably rare, vertical (mother → child), sexual contact, laboratory-related, blood transfusion, organ transplantation.
  • Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense (t-HAT): domesticated and wild animals may be reservoirs.