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BioMed Research International 2016Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) transmitted by the tsetse fly continues to be a public health issue, despite more than a century of research. There are two types of... (Review)
Review
Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) transmitted by the tsetse fly continues to be a public health issue, despite more than a century of research. There are two types of the disease, the chronic gambiense and the acute rhodesiense-HAT. Fly abundance and distribution have been affected by changes in land-use patterns and climate. However, disease transmission still continues. Here, we review some aspects of HAT ecoepidemiology in the context of altered infestation patterns and maintenance of the transmission cycle as well as emerging options in disease and vector control.
Topics: Animals; Congo; Humans; Insect Vectors; Trypanosoma brucei gambiense; Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense; Trypanosomiasis, African; Tsetse Flies
PubMed: 27034944
DOI: 10.1155/2016/6201350 -
PLoS Medicine Feb 2008While the number of new detected cases of HAT is falling, say the authors, sleeping sickness could suffer the "punishment of success," receiving lower priority by public... (Review)
Review
While the number of new detected cases of HAT is falling, say the authors, sleeping sickness could suffer the "punishment of success," receiving lower priority by public and private health institutions.
Topics: Africa; Animals; Forecasting; Humans; Trypanosoma brucei gambiense; Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense; Trypanosomiasis, African
PubMed: 18303943
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.0050055 -
The Lancet. Neurology Feb 2013Human African trypanosomiasis, or sleeping sickness, is caused by infection with parasites of the genus Trypanosoma, transmitted by the tsetse fly. The disease has two... (Review)
Review
Human African trypanosomiasis, or sleeping sickness, is caused by infection with parasites of the genus Trypanosoma, transmitted by the tsetse fly. The disease has two forms, Trypanosoma brucei (T b) rhodesiense and T b gambiense; and is almost always fatal if untreated. Despite a recent reduction in the number of reported cases, patients with African trypanosomiasis continue to present major challenges to clinicians. Because treatment for CNS-stage disease can be very toxic, diagnostic staging to distinguish early-stage from late-stage disease when the CNS in invaded is crucial but remains problematic. Melarsoprol is the only available treatment for late-stage T b rhodesiense infection, but can be lethal to 5% of patients owing to post-treatment reactive encephalopathy. Eflornithine combined with nifurtimox is the first-line treatment for late-stage T b gambiense. New drugs are in the pipeline for treatment of CNS human African trypanosomiasis, giving rise to cautious optimism.
Topics: Humans; Trypanosoma brucei gambiense; Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense; Trypanosomiasis, African
PubMed: 23260189
DOI: 10.1016/S1474-4422(12)70296-X -
Drug Resistance Updates : Reviews and... 2007Despite the many decades of use of most of the current trypanocides, we know little of their mode of action. This may in part be because most of these will act on... (Review)
Review
Despite the many decades of use of most of the current trypanocides, we know little of their mode of action. This may in part be because most of these will act on multiple targets once inside the cell, and they derive their selective action on the parasite from selective accumulation by the pathogen. Loss of this capacity for drug uptake by the trypanosome would thus be a major cause for drug resistance. We here discuss the use of current drugs against human and veterinary African trypanosomiasis, the prevalence, causes and mechanisms of drug resistance and new developments in trypanosomiasis therapy such as the introduction of nifurtimox and DB289.
Topics: Animals; Cell Membrane Permeability; Drug Delivery Systems; Drug Resistance; Humans; Prevalence; Trypanocidal Agents; Trypanosoma; Trypanosomiasis, African
PubMed: 17409013
DOI: 10.1016/j.drup.2007.02.004 -
Expert Review of Molecular Diagnostics May 2015A variety of molecular diagnostic tests for human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) (sleeping sickness) has been developed. Some are effectively used for research and... (Review)
Review
A variety of molecular diagnostic tests for human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) (sleeping sickness) has been developed. Some are effectively used for research and confirmation diagnosis in travel medicine, usually following non-standardized protocols. Others have become commercially available as diagnostic kits. WHO aims to eliminate HAT as a public health problem by the year 2020, and zero transmission by the year 2030. This article gives an overview of the recent progress in molecular diagnostics for sleeping sickness, including the most recent data on test performances. Also discussed is how molecular diagnostics can play an important role in the process toward the elimination of HAT.
Topics: Congo; Humans; Molecular Diagnostic Techniques; Prevalence; Public Health Surveillance; Trypanosoma brucei gambiense; Trypanosomiasis, African
PubMed: 25786994
DOI: 10.1586/14737159.2015.1027195 -
The Pan African Medical Journal 2022human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) is a neglected tropical infection, and surveillance of the disease relies on community participation in screening. This study aimed...
INTRODUCTION
human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) is a neglected tropical infection, and surveillance of the disease relies on community participation in screening. This study aimed to identify the main factors associated with low community uptake of the HAT screening in endemic districts in the Republic of Congo.
METHODS
a cross-sectional survey was carried out during a sensitisation campaign about HAT in the districts of Mpouya, Ngabé and Loudima, which are endemic for the disease. After signing the informed consent form, participants were organized into groups of 10 for focus group discussions (FGDs). A list of questions was used for guiding the discussion, addressing understanding of the disease and reasons for refusing screening.
RESULTS
out of 220 recruited individuals (corresponding to 22 FGDs), 58.6% were men. The majority of the respondents described HAT as a rural disease (48.2%) or as a witchcraft (22.3%). Among the clinical signs cited by the participants, sleep disorder (40%) was the most common answer, followed by prolonged fever (19.5%) and madness (14.1%). The main reasons for non-adherence to HAT screening was the fear of lumbar puncture (45.9%) and stigmatisation (22.3%).
CONCLUSION
the findings of this study suggest that more effort should be put into raising awareness of HAT and the benefits of screening amongst the Congolese population, in order to strengthen the national disease control program.
Topics: Male; Animals; Humans; Female; Trypanosomiasis, African; Congo; Cross-Sectional Studies; Emotions; Research
PubMed: 36425545
DOI: 10.11604/pamj.2022.42.309.34830 -
Advances in Parasitology 2006Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), or sleeping sickness, describes not one but two discrete diseases: that caused by Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense and that caused by... (Review)
Review
Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), or sleeping sickness, describes not one but two discrete diseases: that caused by Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense and that caused by T. b. gambiense. The Gambian form is currently a major public health problem over vast areas of central and western Africa, while the zoonotic, Rhodesian form continues to present a serious health risk in eastern and southern Africa. The two parasites cause distinct clinical manifestations, and there are significant differences in the epidemiology of the diseases caused. We discuss the differences between the diseases caused by the two parasites, with an emphasis on disease burden, reservoir hosts, transmission, diagnosis, treatment and control. We analyse how these differences impacted on historical disease control trends and how they can inform contemporary treatment and control options. We consider the optimal ways in which to devise HAT control policies in light of the differing biology and epidemiology of the parasites, and emphasise, in particular, the wider aspects of control policy, outlining the responsibilities of individuals, governments and international organisations in control programmes.
Topics: Africa; Animals; Animals, Domestic; Animals, Wild; Disease Reservoirs; Health Policy; Host-Parasite Interactions; Humans; Insect Control; Insect Vectors; Trypanosoma; Trypanosomiasis, African; Tsetse Flies
PubMed: 16735165
DOI: 10.1016/S0065-308X(05)61005-6 -
Nature Reviews. Microbiology Mar 2004
Topics: Africa South of the Sahara; Animals; Humans; Trypanocidal Agents; Trypanosoma brucei gambiense; Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense; Trypanosomiasis, African
PubMed: 15751187
DOI: 10.1038/nrmicro848 -
British Medical Journal May 1976
Topics: Humans; Insect Control; Pentamidine; Trypanosomiasis, African; Tsetse Flies
PubMed: 1268670
DOI: No ID Found -
International Journal of Infectious... Aug 2011Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) is caused by sub-species of the parasitic protozoan Trypanosoma brucei and is transmitted by tsetse flies, both of which are endemic... (Review)
Review
Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) is caused by sub-species of the parasitic protozoan Trypanosoma brucei and is transmitted by tsetse flies, both of which are endemic only to sub-Saharan Africa. Several cases have been reported in non-endemic areas, such as North America and Europe, due to travelers, ex-patriots or military personnel returning from abroad or due to immigrants from endemic areas. In this paper, non-endemic cases reported over the past 20 years are reviewed; a total of 68 cases are reported, 19 cases of Trypanosoma brucei gambiense HAT and 49 cases of Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense HAT. Patients ranged in age from 19 months to 72 years and all but two patients survived. Physicians in non-endemic areas should be aware of the signs and symptoms of this disease, as well as methods of diagnosis and treatment, especially as travel to HAT endemic areas increases. We recommend extension of the current surveillance systems such as TropNetEurop and maintaining and promotion of existing reference centers of diagnostics and expertise. Important contact information is also included, should physicians require assistance in diagnosing or treating HAT.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Animals; Child; Child, Preschool; Europe; Female; Humans; Infant; Insect Vectors; Male; Middle Aged; North America; Population Surveillance; Travel; Trypanosoma brucei brucei; Trypanosoma brucei gambiense; Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense; Trypanosomiasis, African; Tsetse Flies; Young Adult
PubMed: 21683638
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2011.03.018