some new leads for human african trypanosomiasis (african sleeping sickness)

Sleeping sickness – human African trypanosomiasis

The continuing problem of human African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness).

Human African trypanosomiasis, also known as sleeping sickness, is a neglected disease, and it continues to pose a major threat to 60 million people in 36 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. Transmitted by the bite of the tsetse fly, the disease is caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Trypanosoma and comes in two types: East African human African trypanosomiasis caused by Trypanosoma brucei ...

A Literature Review of Economic Evaluations for a Neglected Tropical Disease: Human African Trypanosomiasis (“Sleeping Sickness”)

Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) is a disease caused by infection with the parasite Trypanosoma brucei gambiense or T. b. rhodesiense. It is transmitted to humans via the tsetse fly. Approximately 70 million people worldwide were at risk of infection in 1995, and approximately 20,000 people across Africa are infected with HAT. The objective of this review was to identify existing economic ev...

New developments in human African trypanosomiasis.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW To review recent literature on human African trypanosomiasis, focussing on genome sequencing, diagnosis and drug discovery, and typing of trypanosomes. RECENT FINDINGS The most important recent development has been the completion of the Trypanosoma brucei genome which will greatly facilitate the discovery of new drug targets and genetic markers. Correct staging of the diseas...

Molecular epidemiology of African sleeping sickness.

Human sleeping sickness in Africa, caused by Trypanosoma brucei spp. raises a number of questions. Despite the widespread distribution of the tsetse vectors and animal trypanosomiasis, human disease is only found in discrete foci which periodically give rise to epidemics followed by periods of endemicity A key to unravelling this puzzle is a detailed knowledge of the aetiological agents respons...

Human African trypanosomiasis.

Human African trypanosomiasis or sleeping sickness is one of the most important but equally most neglected tropical infections. It is caused by a protozoan, Trypanosoma brucei, which is transmitted to humans through the bite of a tsetse fly (Glossina spp). Patchy distribution of the various vector species confines the disease to some 200 microfoci in sub-Saharan Africa (fig 1). The disease had ...