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 cause zoonotic infections in cattle and other animals, transmitted by the painful bite of the tsetse fly (Glossina morsitans; Fig. 1), which is not preventable with DEET, typically in rural areas of Africa.
  
  • Trypanosoma brucei gambiense (g-HAT): humans are the only known significant reservoir; hence, efforts are focused on eradication.
    • Other modes of transmission are possible, but probably rare: vertical (mother → child), sexual contact, laboratory-related, blood transfusion, and organ transplantation.
  • Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense (r-HAT): domesticated and wild animals may be reservoirs.