Studies on African Trypanosomiasis.
Abstract
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, 15 of 21 T. rhodesiense isolates reacted with same antiserum idicating antigenic similarites which had persisted since 1970. When isolates from cattle were tested 5 of 25 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. Some isolates of T. rhodesiense have been found to be pathogenic for cattle. Trypanosomes isolated from humans produced disease in cattle which was characterized by fever, weight loss, increased gamma globulin levels, pleocytosis and central nervous system disorders. Continuing the study of anemia in T. congolense infected cattle, we have found that early in the course of disease there is an increase in mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular hemoglobin while the mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular hemoglobin while the mean corpuscular hemoblobin concentration does not change. Preliminary results indicate that a consumptive coagulopathy also occurs during the course of infection, with thrombocytopenia, extended partial thromboplastin times and positive protamine paracoagulation tests.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 30, 1976
- Accession Number
- ADA027174