What caused African sleeping sickness?
Parasites – African Trypanosomiasis (also known as Sleeping Sickness) African Trypanosomiasis, also known as “sleeping sickness”, is caused by microscopic parasites of the species Trypanosoma brucei. It is transmitted by the tsetse fly (Glossina species), which is found only in sub-Saharan Africa.
What are the 3 types of sleeping sickness?
African trypanosomiasis, also known as African sleeping sickness or simply sleeping sickness, is an insect-borne parasitic infection of humans and other animals….
| African trypanosomiasis | |
|---|---|
| Types | Trypanosoma brucei gambiense (TbG), Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense (TbR) |
| Causes | Trypanosoma brucei spread by tsetse flies |
What are the symptoms of tsetse?
A bite by the tsetse fly is often painful and can develop into a red sore, also called a chancre. Fever, severe headaches, irritability, extreme fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, and aching muscles and joints are common symptoms of sleeping sickness. Some people develop a skin rash.
What is suramin made from?
Suramin contains six aromatic systems – four benzene rings, sandwiched by a pair of naphthalene moieties – plus four amide functional groups (in addition to the urea) and six sulfonic acid groups.
How is African sleeping sickness spread?
Sleeping sickness is most commonly spread through the bite of an infected tsetse fly. Even in areas where the disease occurs, only a small percentage of flies are generally infected. Tsetse flies are the size of a honey bee and are grey-brown.
Does sleeping sickness affect the brain?
Human African trypanosomiasis may not be known as a brain disease, but in fact the irresistible sleep that overcomes victims in its final stages results from the disease’s wholesale assault on the brain and nervous system.
Is suramin still prescribed?
Though it has been investigated for other diseases, including cancer, it is not approved for any therapeutic use in the United States.
What is the medicine for sleeping sickness?
Abstract. Only four drugs are available for the chemotherapy of human African trypanosomiasis or sleeping sickness; Suramin, pentamidine, melarsoprol and eflornithine. The history of the development of these drugs is well known and documented.
Is there a cure for tsetse fly?
There is no vaccine or medicine that prevents African trypanosomiasis. Travelers can protect themselves by preventing tsetse fly bites.
What do tsetse fly bites look like?
The tsetse fly bite is often painful and can cause red bumps or small red ulcers at the site of the bite. It can also transmit sleeping sickness (trypanosomiasis) to animals and humans.