Summary
African trypanosomiasis is a strictly African parasitosis, also called African Sleeping Sickness. It is caused by a protozoa of the Trypanosoma genus and transmitted by the tsetse fly (genus Glossina). T. gambiense is found in Western and Central Africa, while T. rhodesiense is found in Eastern Africa. After an initial phase of fever and lymphadenopathy, the disease rapidly progresses (more so with T. rhodesiense) toward a deadly meningoencephalitis. Pentamidine is the classical treatment during the lymphatic stage, while melarsoprol (arsenic compound) is administered when the brain is affected. Alpha-difluoromethyl ornithin tends to replace the former treatment in meningocerebral forms. Prophylaxis consists of eradicating tsetse flies. *Author: L. Paris, M.D. (February 2005)*.
