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Updated: Aug 2, 2026
13:55
Sexual Transmission of American Trypanosomes from Males and Females to Naive Mates
Published on: January 27, 2019
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[Towards elimination of human African trypanosomiasis]
Philippe Solano1, Fabrice Courtin2, Dramane Kaba3
1Université Montpellier, Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD), Centre de coopération internationale en recherche agronomique pour le développement (CIRAD), UMR Intertryp Montpellier, France.
Medecine Tropicale Et Sante Internationale
|August 1, 2023
Summary
Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT), a neglected tropical disease, has seen a significant reduction in cases due to coordinated efforts. Sustaining these gains requires addressing funding, resources, and access challenges for continued elimination.
Area of Science:
- * Parasitology and vector-borne disease research.
- * Public health and tropical medicine.
- * Epidemiology of neglected tropical diseases.
Context:
- * Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT), caused by *Trypanosoma brucei* and transmitted by tsetse flies, is a WHO-listed Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD).
- * Historically devastating, HAT was nearly controlled in the 1960s but re-emerged in the 1990s, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations.
- * The WHO's 2021-2030 roadmap targets NTD elimination, with HAT as a key focus.
Purpose:
- * To review advancements in diagnostics, treatments, and vector control for HAT.
- * To highlight successful joint implementation of these tools in endemic countries.
- * To identify future challenges and strategies for sustainable HAT elimination.
Summary:
- * Coordinated efforts involving national programs, research, and private donations have drastically reduced annual HAT cases to below 1000 since 2018.
- * New diagnostics, treatments, and vector control tools have been successfully implemented, contributing to this decline.
- * Sustaining progress requires addressing research questions on long-term carriage and low-prevalence adaptation, alongside non-research challenges like funding, human resources, and access.
Impact:
- * Significant reduction in HAT burden, demonstrating the success of integrated control strategies.
- * Provides a model for sustainable elimination of other infectious diseases.
- * Moving towards the 2030 NTD roadmap target of interrupting HAT transmission.
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