​Infectious Diseases and Microbiology - African Sleeping Sickness ( Trypanosoma brucei)

​Infectious Diseases and Microbiology - African  Sleeping Sickness ( Trypanosoma brucei) 
Trypanosoma brucei is the name of the organism.
There are two subspecies, gambiense and rhodesiense, that cannot be distinguished based on their physical characteristics, but they have distinct ecological and epidemiological differences.
A hemoflagellate is a type of flagellate protozoan that resides in the blood. The sole parasite form found in humans is the flagellated trypomastigote.
 
Only humans serve as significant reservoirs for T brucei gambiense, a parasite prevalent in West and Central Africa. Conversely, T brucei rhodesiense has a wide range of reservoirs, encompassing both domestic and wild animals, and is primarily prevalent in East Africa. Both diseases are transmitted by the tsetse fly.

T brucei gambiense infection is distinguished by the presence of a skin nodule or chancre at the location where the tsetse fly bites, along with a recurring fever and swelling of the lymph nodes in the back of the neck (known as Winterbottom sign). Systemic sickness manifests as a long-lasting condition that persists for months to years. Manifestations encompass demyelinating encephalitis, which has the potential to result in a state of unconsciousness and mortality. The disease produced by T brucei rhodesiense in East Africa is characterized by its acute nature, quick progression, and high fatality rate.

The cyclic character of the fever and efficient evasion of the humoral immune system can be attributed to the antigenic fluctuation of surface glycoproteins. The central nervous system (CNS) can be reached via the bloodstream.

Elevated levels of IgM antibodies are typically observed. The diagnosis entails identifying trypomastigotes in the blood, cerebrospinal fluid, or fluid obtained from a chancre or lymph node through aspiration.

 Typically, pentamidine or suramin is administered for acute disease, while melarsoprol is prescribed for central nervous system prevention. Prevention is the utilization of physical barriers, such as protective gear and bed netting, to decrease the occurrence of fly bites.