There are two major forms of the disease caused by a parasitic organism: Trypanosoma brucei gambiense is confined to West and Central Africa, and T. rhodesiense to Central, East, and South-East Africa. The infection is caused by the bite of tsetse fly (Glossina spp.) The related condition in the Americas of CHAGAS’ DISEASE has a different insect vector. Onset of disease is accompanied by fever, progressive ANAEMIA, and enlarged glands, followed by increasing lethargy, slowing of mentality, and physical weakness. These give way to headache and an increasing tendency to sleep. These symptoms are caused by proliferation of parasites in the patient's cerebral blood vessels, and are accompanied by inflammatory changes and disorganisation of nervous tissue.
is by detection of the invading trypanosomes in a blood specimen or, alternatively, in a sample of cerebrospinal fluid.
is with suramine or pentamidine; when cerebral involvement has ensued, melarsoprol – which penetrates the blood-brain barrier – may be advised.