b Human African Trypanosomiasis

Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) is commonly known as sleeping sickness

HAT proceeds rapidly from lethargy through coma to death

HAT is caused by a parastic protozoan

HAT is spread by the tsetse fly or through contaminated blood

Life Cycle

There are two Types of HAT Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense Acute -- can cause death in weeks or months Trypanosomoa brucei gambiense Chronic --lasts years

The two types of HAT affect different parts of Africa

The major risk Factor I, once again… exposure to these little bugs!

100% Fatal if left untreated cardiac failure or from the infection itself

Past epidemics have left their mark on Africa.

Blood Smears can be used to diagnose HAT

Cerebrospinal Fluid Tests can also be used. Look for presence of trypanosomes High levels of CSP protein and WBCs

Complete Blood Count (CBC) are another test used. Look for high levels of immunoglobulin protein M Anemia High levels of White blood cells

Melarsoprol used to be the most common treatment. Arsenic based Kills 5% of patients “Like fire in the veins”

Eflornithine had less side effects but was far too costly and inconvenient 1 hour infusions, every 6 hours for 2 weeks $655

Nifurtimox-Eflornithine Combination Therapy (NECT) is the first new treatment in 25 years On WHO’s Essential Drugs List (2009) $330

NECT has considerably less side effects. 86% Experienced Side effect 37.9% Mild 54.7% Moderate

Work to find new treatments is being done right here in North Carolina “it will be the first new, orally active treatment for sleeping sickness in the past 30 years”

Currently, the PATTEC is attempting to eradicate HAT.

Resources "About Us." Open Positions. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Nov " African Union, Feb Web. 07 Nov Alirol, E., D. Shrumpf, JA Heradi, C. De Patoul, M. Quere, and F. Chappuis. "Result Filters."National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 12 Oct Web. 01 Nov "Children's Health." Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Analysis. Encyclopedia of Children's Health, n.d. Web. 01 Nov "DPDx - Trypanosomiasis, African." DPDx - Trypanosomiasis, African. Centers For Disease Control, n.d. Web. 01 Nov "Improved Treatment for Sleeping Sickness Now Available." Doctors Without Borders. Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiave, n.d. Web. 01 Nov Leslie, Mitch. "Hitting Sleeping Sickness Where It Lives." - ScienceNOW. ScienceNOW, 28 June Web. 01 Nov Moore, Anne. "Chapter 3Infectious Diseases Related To Travel." Trypanosomiasis, African (Human African Trypanosomiasis, African Sleeping Sickness). Centers For Disease Control, n.d. Web. 01 Nov N.p., n.d. Web.. Odero, Randy O. "African Trypanosomiasis (Sleeping Sickness)Â Workup." African Trypanosomiasis (Sleeping Sickness) Workup. Medscape, 11 Jan Web. 01 Nov "Pan African Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Campaign - PATTEC | African Union."Pan African Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Campaign - PATTEC | African Union. African Union, Web. 01 Nov "Parasite Museum." Trypanosome. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Nov "Seattle BioMed." African Sleeping Sickness. Seattle Biomed, n.d. Web. 01 Nov "Sleeping Sickness." Sleeping Sickness. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 18 Nov Web. 01 Nov "Tarangire." Tarangire. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Nov "Trypanosomiasis, Human African (sleeping Sickness)." WHO. World Health Organization, Oct Web. 01 Nov "Tsetse Fly (insect)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 01 Nov "WHO Report on Global Surveillance of Epidemic-prone Infectious Diseases - African Trypanosomiasis." WHO. World Health Organization, n.d. Web. 01 Nov McCann, Peter M., and Anthony E. Pegg. "Ornithine Decarboxylase as an Enzyme Target for Therapy." Science Direct. N.p., n.d. Web..