Sleeping Sickness (African Trypanosomiasis)

In sleeping sickness (African trypanosomiasis; synonyms: African sleeping sickness; African sleeping sickness caused by Trypanosoma brucei gambiense; African sleeping sickness caused by Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense; African sleeping sickness caused by Trypanosoma gambiense; African sleeping sickness caused by Trypanosoma rhodesiense; African trypanosomiasis; African trypanosomiasis caused by Trypanosoma brucei; Infection caused by Trypanosoma brucei gambiense; Infection caused by Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense; Meningitis in African trypanosomiasis; Myelitis in African trypanosomiasis; Nairobi sleeping sickness; East African sleeping sickness; East African trypanosomiasis; Trypanosomiasis africana; Trypanosomiasis africana due to Trypanosoma brucei; Trypanosomiasis due to Trypanosoma brucei gambiense; Trypanosomiasis due to Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense; Trypanosomiasis gambiensis; Trypanosomiasis rhodesiensis; West African sleeping sickness; West African trypanosomiasis) is an infectious disease caused by flagellates of the genus Trypanosoma (Trypanosoma brucei gambiense).

The disease belongs to the parasitic zoonoses (animal diseases).

The pathogen reservoir is mainly humans. Certain trypanosome species, such as Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, also infect wild and domestic animals (e.g. antelopes, cattle). They are also important as reservoirs of pathogens.

The following forms of trypanosomiasis can be distinguished:

  • African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness; ICD-10 B56.-) – caused by Trypanosoma brucei gambiense (West African sleeping sickness) and Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense (East African sleeping sickness).
  • American trypanosomiasis (Chagas disease; ICD-10 B57.-) – caused by Trypanosoma cruzi.

Sleeping sickness (African trypanosomiasis) is described below.

Occurrence: African trypanosomiasis occurs in tropical Africa, especially in the Congo, Sudan and Angola, as well as in Kenya and Tanzania.

Transmission of the pathogen (route of infection) is by tsetse flies, in the West African form by the genus Glossina palpalis, and in the East African form by Glossina morsitans. Glossina palpalis usually bites only humans and occurs along river courses. Glossina morsitans usually stings animals and occurs primarily in savannas.

The incubation period (time from infection to onset of disease) is usually weeks (to years) for the West African form and 3-21 days for the East African form.

Course and prognosis: Initially, the disease begins flu-like. As the disease progresses, the characteristic sleep disturbances occur along with behavioral disturbances and meningitis (meningitis). In the East African form, the heart is also affected. This form progresses more rapidly than the West African form and can be lethal (fatal) even before the transition to the second stage (meningoencephalitic (affecting the meninges and brain) stage). The West African form predominantly damages the central nervous system (CNS). If untreated, both forms of sleeping sickness are lethal.