Role of Serodiagnosis of Human African Trypanosomiasis (Sleeping Sickness)
Article Details
Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) or sleeping sickness, is caused by Trypanosoma brucei gambiense, which is a
chronic form of the disease present in western and central Africa and by Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, which is an acute disease located in eastern and southern Africa.
Objective: To evaluate the microscopical, serological (CATT; CIATT) and PCR.
Methods: A population of 200 serum samples from 3 displaced health centres around Khartoum state was examined usig different
techniques blood films, CATT, CIATT test and PCR on whole blood and similar analysis in their cross reactivity which resulted in
the detection of the false positive cases of sleeping sickness from patients with malaria, leishmaniasis, Filarial (W. bancrofite) and negative cases show in Toxoplasma gondii and hydatid disease from non-endemic areas of sleeping sickness.
Results: Showed that from 200 serum samples there were 121 male and 79 female detected (17.35% and 24.05%,
respectively) and by CIATT detected 7.0% and 6.0%, the result show more positive cases by CATT than CIATT in displaced people in Khartoum state. However parasitological examination did not show the present of the parasites. But in PCR test from 37 blood samples there were 4 cases positive, 10.8%.
Conclusion: By serological analysis the CATT shows more positive cases than CIATT and can be used interchangeably with the old format of the CATT test. It is highly suitable for use in peripheral health facilities in HAT-endemic countries.