What are the two subspecies of T brucei?
T gambiense
T rhodesiense
Where is T Gambiense found?
West African Coast
Is T Gambiense chronic or acute?
Chronic
Where is T Rhodesiense found?
East African Coast
Which country has both T.rhodiense and T.gambiense?
Uganda
Is T rhodesiense chronic or acute?
Acute
Which country has the highest prevalence of Rhodiense HAT?
Malawi
How does t.brucei evade the immune system?
antigenic variation
What is the vector of disease in HAT?
the tsetse fly
What is the difference between T cruzi and T brucei in its morphological stages?
T brucei lacks an amastigote phase (only kinetoplastid to lack one)
What does T cruzi cause?
Chagas disease
What is the first stage in East African HAT (Rhodiense)?
a chancre appears one week after tsetse fly bite, often heals leaving pigmentation, headache
What is the first stage in West African HAT (Gambiense)?
Winterbottom’s sign (enlarged lymph node in neck)
How long does it take for the encephalitic stage to develop in T.b. gambiense?
Chronic ie months or years
How long does it take for the encephalitic stage to develop in T.b. rhodiense?
Acute ie 1-4 weeks
What is the definitive diagnosis of HAT?
blood smear (thick or thin) to be examined within 15-20 mins
could be chancre aspirate or lymph node aspirate in a DEA anion exchange column
Does t.b gambiense have a confirmed animal reservoir or does t.b. rhodiense?
t.b. rhodiense !
What is the treatment for HAT?
fexinidazole po
