Studies on African Trypanosomiasis

Isolates of T. rhodesiense were collected from patients in Lambwe Valley, South Nyanza, Western Kenya. Parasites of the T. brucei group were also collected from cattle in the same area. When these parasites were tested by neutralization with antisera collected from bovines which had undergone long t...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Muriithi,I E, Wykoff,D E, Kovatch,R M, Wellde,B T
Format: Report
Language:English
Subjects:
AFRICA
AS831
BOVINES
DETECTION
IMMUNE SERUMS
IMMUNIZATION
INFECTIOUS DISEASES
IRRADIATION
Medicine and Medical Research
Microbiology
PATHOLOGY
PE62759A
SEROLOGY
Trypanosoma brucei
Trypanosoma rhodesiense
TRYPANOSOMIASIS
WU096
Online Access:Request full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Isolates of T. rhodesiense were collected from patients in Lambwe Valley, South Nyanza, Western Kenya. Parasites of the T. brucei group were also collected from cattle in the same area. When these parasites were tested by neutralization with antisera collected from bovines which had undergone long term infections with various isolates, 12 of 16 T. rhodesiense isolates reacted with the same antiserum indicating antigenic similarities which has persisted for at least four years. When isolates of T. brucei from cattle were tested, 4 of 19 reacted with the same antiserum used in the T. rhodesiense tests. Isolates of T. rhodesiense from Ethiopia and Tanzania were not neutralized by this antiserum. T. rhodesiense has been found to be pathogenic for cattle. Trypanosomes isolated from humans produced disease in cattle which was characterized by weight loss, fever, pleocytosis and CNS disorders. Uncoordinated movements, circling and opisthotonos were observed. Gross alterations in the brain included thickened dull grey meninges, while the salient histological picture was a moderate to severe non-purulent meningoencephalitis. Thrombocytopenia has been found to be a prominent feature of T. congolense infections in cattle. This condition is dependent on high levels of trypanosomes in the peripheral blood.