THE HUMAN TRYPANOSOMIASES (SLEEPING SICKNESS AND CHAGAS-DISEASE)

The African and American trypanosomiases remain major public health pr oblems. Parasitological diagnosis is often difficult because of the lo w number of blood-stream trypanosomes present. A number of advances in diagnostic methods have been made recently, ranging from direct paras ite detection to polymerase chain reaction-based methods. Vector contr ol remains the most effective transmission control measure in most eco logical situations for both types of disease. Chemotherapy and prophyl axis do not hold much promise, except in African trypanosomiasis where a new but expensive drug is now available, and there is better unders tanding of the pharmacological properties of the established drugs. Im pressive advances in our understanding of human trypanosome biology ar e being made in many areas of study; whether these advances can be tra nslated into improved control and treatment remains to be seen.