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Protozoan Infections of Man: African Trypanosomiasis

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Chemotherapy of Parasitic Diseases

Abstract

Human sleeping sickness is caused by one of two subspecies of Trypanosoma brucei: T. b. gambiense the causative agent of Gambian sleeping sickness and T. b. rhodesiense the causative agent of Rhodesian sleeping sickness. Gambian sleeping sickness is characterized by 100% mortality of untreated cases, neurological symptoms being expressed gradually and death occurring at least 2 years after infection, low parasitemia, and a life cycle based on transmission between tsetse fly and man. Rhodesian sleeping sickness, too, is characterized by 100% mortality of untreated cases, but with rapid onset of neurological symptoms, high parasitemia, and a zoonotic life cycle (involving tsetse fly and wild animals) that man shares only as an occasional host.

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  1. Merck Sharp & Dohme Research Laboratories, Rahway, New Jersey, 07065, USA

    Robert S. Rew

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  1. Robert S. Rew
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  1. Merck Institute for Therapeutic Research, Rahway, New Jersey, USA

    William C. Campbell

  2. Merck Sharp & Dohme Research Laboratories, Rahway, New Jersey, USA

    Robert S. Rew

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© 1986 Plenum Press, New York

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Rew, R.S. (1986). Protozoan Infections of Man: African Trypanosomiasis. In: Campbell, W.C., Rew, R.S. (eds) Chemotherapy of Parasitic Diseases. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-1233-8_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-1233-8_5

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-1235-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-1233-8

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