Death by Tsetse Fly

The sleeping sickness!

Tsetse Fly

Kingdom:  Animalia

Phylum:  Arthropoda

Class:  Insecta

Order:  Diptera

Subsection:  Calyptratae

Superfamily:  Hippoboscoidea

Family: Glossinidae

Genus:  Glossina

Species groups:  morsitans, fusca, palpalis

Trypanosoma brucei

 

Super Kingdom: Eukaryota

Kingdom: Excavata

Phylum: Euglenozoa

Class: Kinetoplastea

Order: Trypanosomatida

Genus: Trypanosoma

Species: brucei
Subspecies: gambiense, rhodesiense

The Tsetse fly is found in parts of central and western African forests, near rivers and waterholes. It is larger than the average fly and is a host for a deadly parasite. When feeding on human or mammal blood the parasite transmits a disease called trypanosomiasis; also known as the sleeping sickness. After the painful initial bite the parasite enters the bloodstream, passes over into the lymph, and finally to the central nervous system. Over time the disease will still be developing which can lead to an infection in the brain and the meninges.

Trypanosomiasis is caused by an organism that lives in the blood of the host called Trypanosoma brucei. This flagellate has two sub-species: T. b. gambiense and T. b. rhodesiense. T. brucei gambiense, only affects humans and is reproduced in the bloodstream. It eventually finds its way to the central nervous system causing harmful symptoms. This disease last for several years which continues to trigger more symptoms to arise. T. brucei gambiense will eventually develop into a coma resulting in the final stage of the sleeping sickness. It is stated that if the central nervous system is affected, the person can no longer be cured, and eventually dies.

After a person has been bitten from an infected Tsetse fly there is an incubation period that ranges from a few days to several months. The area of the bite will be about 2 to 10cm large and will almost always be red and sore. The lymph nodes become swollen and tender along with various other symptoms. It may include illness, body rash, fever, muscle and joint pain. If the person is not getting treatment, the brain may get infected a few months to two years after the initial bite. These symptoms are confusion, reversed diurnal rhythm, dementia, convulsions, loss of bladder control, forms of paralysis, becoming mentally impaired. The final dangerous symptom is when the person is difficult to wake, becomes increasingly listless, and eventually goes into a coma.

It should be advised that when in regions where Tsetse flies are located to cover all parts of the body. Wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts, thick socks and hats. Although there is no vaccine for prevention, taking necessary measures should help.

References:

http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/travel/diseases/sleeping_sickness.htm