Human African Trypanosomiasis

Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT), also known as sleeping sickness, is a neglected tropical disease caused by Trypanosoma brucei gambiense and T. b. rhodesiense, transmitted by tsetse flies. This advanced topic is central to tertiary parasitology and tropical medicine curricula in Zambian universities and colleges. Students will delve into the complex epidemiology, focal distribution in sub-Saharan Africa, clinical stages (haemolymphatic and meningoencephalitic), and sophisticated diagnostic techniques like the Card Agglutination Test for Trypanosomiasis (CATT). The course covers current treatment protocols, drug mechanisms, and the challenges of disease surveillance and elimination. For Zambian medical laboratory science and public health students, understanding HAT is critical for clinical practice, outbreak management, and contributing to national and regional control programs. This topic prepares learners for exams and equips them with knowledge directly applicable to improving health outcomes in endemic regions.