Human african trypanosomiasis: current standing and challenges

Authors

  • Isabel Theresa Holanda-Freitas Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
  • Marli do Carmo Cupertino Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, Brazil
  • Elizária C. dos Santos Universidade Federal do Vale do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Diamantina, MG, Brazil
  • Lisa Oliveira Centro Universitário Serra dos Orgãos, Teresópolis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  • Mauro Geller Centro Universitário Serra dos Orgãos, Teresópolis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  • Rodrigo Siqueira-Batista Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5216/rpt.v49i3.62857

Abstract

Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma brucei gambiense and Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, and transmitted by the tsetse fly (genus Glossina), affects 36 Sub-Saharan African countries with considerable public health impact.  Despite approximately 15,000 infected individuals and 70 million at risk, in recent years the World Health Organization has mentioned removal of HAT from the list of Neglected Tropical Diseases by 2020, due to the decrease in cases over the last two decades. When untreated, the disease presents high lethality rates and the available treatments are complicated to administer, highly toxic, and do not guarantee cure, especially in the advanced stages of the disease. Further, there is no prospect for vaccine development in the near future. The present review compiles information on the history of the clinical aspects of HAT, as well as its epidemiology, diagnosis, therapy, and prophylaxis, as well as updating information on the current panorama and perspectives regarding the disease.
KEY WORDS: African Trypanosomiasis; neglected diseases; Trypanosoma brucei.

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Author Biographies

Isabel Theresa Holanda-Freitas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Medical School, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. Belo Horizonte. Minas Gerais, Brazil

Marli do Carmo Cupertino, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, MG, Brazil

School of Medicine, Faculdade Dinâmica do Vale do Piranga. Ponte Nova, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Elizária C. dos Santos, Universidade Federal do Vale do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Diamantina, MG, Brazil

School of Medicine, Universidade Federal do Vale do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Lisa Oliveira, Centro Universitário Serra dos Orgãos, Teresópolis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Medical School, Centro Universitário Serra dos Orgãos, Teresópolis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Mauro Geller, Centro Universitário Serra dos Orgãos, Teresópolis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Medical School, Centro Universitário Serra dos Orgãos, Teresópolis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Rodrigo Siqueira-Batista, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil

1. School of Medicine, Faculdade Dinâmica do Vale do Piranga. Ponte Nova, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
2. Department of Medicine and Nursing, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

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Published

2020-10-19

How to Cite

THERESA HOLANDA-FREITAS, I.; DO CARMO CUPERTINO, M.; C. DOS SANTOS, E. .; OLIVEIRA, L.; GELLER, M.; SIQUEIRA-BATISTA, R. Human african trypanosomiasis: current standing and challenges. Revista de Patologia Tropical / Journal of Tropical Pathology, Goiânia, v. 49, n. 3, 2020. DOI: 10.5216/rpt.v49i3.62857. Disponível em: https://revistas.ufg.br/iptsp/article/view/62857. Acesso em: 22 dec. 2024.

Issue

Vol. 49 No. 3 (2020)

Section

REVIEW

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