African Trypanosomiasis – Protozoa (CNS Infection)

00:00 Here is a time course of the progression of this disease that we've been describing: African trypanosomiasis. You have on the left the very beginning where the trypanosomes are injected into the host, the development of the chancre, fever and headache, early signs, the parasites move into the lymphatics, continued fever, swollen lymph nodes, deteriorating health. We’re now months into the infection and then at some point the parasite, depending on which species it is, which subspecies, months to years, it will invade the CNS, this is associated initially with anorexia, minor neurological problems, apathy and lassitude.

00:45 After more time, severe sleep disturbance and severe neurological symptoms, finally leading to convulsions, coma, other infections and death. This is a lethal infection. Here is a picture of a young boy with the typical presentation of what is called sleeping sickness, that is the disease caused by African trypanosomes. He is lying in bed, he can't function at all, he sleeps most of the time and whenever his eyes are open he is simply staring into space.

01:18 This is a terrible affliction for which we need really to devise preventatives.