The Trypanosomiases

This state-of-the-art reference book includes comprehensive coverage of the biology and control of African, Asian and South American trypanosomiasis ("sleeping sickness") in man and animals. It describes recent research developments in the biology and molecular biology of trypanosomes (the protozoan parasite) and their vectors, and methods in diagnosis and control, such as trapping tsetse fly vectors. Different sections of the book are devoted to biology of trypanosomes, vector biology, epidemiology and diagnosis, pathogenesis, disease impact, chemotherapy and disease control, and vector control. The book contains contributions from leading experts from Europe, North and South America, and Africa.

This new volume written by experts in the field of trypanosome research covers every aspect of trypanosome-vector-host biology. It is a must read for basic researchers working with trypanosomes and related organisms, infection and drug development as well as parasitology in a broader sense. ​

Describes the two main types of trypanosomiasis, how and where it is spread, as well as its treatment.

This reference book includes comprehensive coverage of the biology and control of African, Asian and South American trypanosomiasis in man and animals. It describes recent research developments in the biology and molecular biology of trypanosomes and their vectors, and methods in diagnosis and control, such as tsetse trapping. Different sections of the book are devoted to biology of trypanosomes (part 1), vector biology (part 2), epidemiology and diagnosis (part 3), pathogenesis (part 4), disease impact (part 5), chemotherapy and disease control (part 6), and vector control (part 7). This book is intended for researchers in the areas of parasitology, medical and veterinary science, and biology, and for public health and veterinary staff and international agencies concerned with reducing mortality and morbidity due to trypanosomiasis.

This report provides information about new diagnostic approaches, new therapeutic regimens and better understanding of the distribution of the disease with high-quality mapping. The roles of human and animal reservoirs and the tsetse fly vectors that transmit the parasites are emphasized. The new information has formed the basis for an integrated strategy with which it is hoped that elimination of HAT will be achieved. The report also contains recommendations on the approaches that will lead to elimination of the disease. Human African Tryponosomiasis (HAT) is a disease that afflicts populations in rural Africa, where the tsetse fly vector that transmits the causative trypanosome parasites thrives. There are two forms of HAT: one, known as gambiense HAT, is endemic in West and Central Africa and causes over 95% of current cases; the other, known as rhodesiense HAT, is endemic in East and southern Africa and accounts for the remainder of cases. The presence of parasites in the brain leads to progressive neurological breakdown. Changes to sleep-wake patterns are among the symptoms that characterize the disease, also known as "sleeping sickness". Eventually, patients fall into a coma and die if not treated. Different treatments are available against parasites present in the haemolymphatic system (first stage) and those that have entered the brain (second stage). Currently, lumbar puncture is required to select the appropriate drug.

Human African trypanosomiasis or sleeping sickness is caused by infection with the morphologically indistinguishable subspecies Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense (in East and Southern Africa) and Trypanosoma brucei gambiense (in West and Central Africa). The disease is presently almost under control and less than 4000 cases are currently reported. In both, T. b. rhodesiense and T. b. gambiense infection, after the injection of infective metacyclic trypanosomes with tsetse fly vector saliva, the parasites establish in the skin, differentiate to the bloodstream stage and spread via the local draining lymph node into the vascular system. In this book, Chapter One presents an overview of the current epidemiology, clinical features, diagnosis and treatment options. Chapter Two provides an in-depth review of diagnostic methods for African trypanosomiasis. Chapter Three discusses the use of aminoadamantane derivatives against Trypanosoma brucei.