DIAGNOSIS OF AFRICAN AND AMERICAN TRYPANOSOMIASES

Diagnosis of both African and American trypanosomiases is hindered by lack of specificity of early clinical signs, scarcity of parasites in patients and occurrence of asymptomatic carriers. Effectiveness of chemotherapy depends on early diagnosis. Sensitive and specific diagnostic tools have recently become available for both case detection and mass survey but their use in endemic countries is limited by economic constraints and lack of political will.