Diagnosis of African Sleeping Sickness
Diagnosing African sleeping sickness can be done through three methods. One way is by examining swollen lymph nodes, while another involves a straightforward blood test. However, it is important to note that this blood test can only accurately detect the West African strain of the parasite. For a more conclusive diagnosis and to aid in staging, additional analysis of other body fluids like spinal fluid and bone marrow is necessary.
Relation to American Trypanosomiasis
The relationship between Trypanosoma cruzi and American trypanosomiasis, also known as Chagas disease, is significant. This parasitic infection is primarily found in the United States, as well as Central and South America. While it belongs to the same genus as human African trypanosomiasis, it is not as contagious. Unlike T. brucei, which can enter the body through intact skin via the bite of a tsetse fly, T. cruzi is transmitted when the kissing bug, a species of Reduviidae, defecates on or near a cut or puncture.