Trypanosoma brucei
Quick Summary
Trypanosoma brucei is a parasitic protozoan that causes African trypanosomiasis, also known as sleeping sickness, in humans and animals. This disease is transmitted through the bite of the tsetse fly (Glossina).1
There are two forms of the disease caused by different subspecies of T. brucei:
* East African (Rhodesian) sleeping sickness: An acute form caused by T. brucei rhodesiense.1
* West African (Gambian) sleeping sickness: A chronic, slower-developing form caused by T. brucei gambiense.1
Both forms can eventually affect the brain, leading to severe neurological symptoms, coma, and death. Other Trypanosoma species cause significant diseases in livestock.12
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