Trypanosoma brucei brucei, commonly referred to as T. brucei brucei, is a subspecies of the Trypanosoma brucei parasite. It is an extracellular protozoan parasite that belongs to the family Trypanosomatidae, which is known for causing various diseases in humans and animals. T. brucei brucei is primarily found in sub-Saharan Africa and is the causative agent of animal African trypanosomiasis, also known as Nagana.
T. brucei brucei has a complex life cycle, involving two hosts - a mammalian host, usually domestic livestock such as cattle, and a tsetse fly vector. The parasite multiplies in the bloodstream and lymphatic system of the mammalian host, leading to clinical symptoms such as fever, anemia, weight loss, and eventually death if left untreated. Transmission occurs when an infected tsetse fly takes a blood meal from the mammalian host, acquiring the parasite, which then develops and multiplies in the fly’s midgut and salivary glands. The parasite is subsequently transmitted to other mammalian hosts through the tsetse fly's bite, perpetuating the cycle.
Control and prevention of T. brucei brucei rely on various strategies, including the use of insecticides to target tsetse flies, vector control programs, and the treatment of infected animals. Animal African trypanosomiasis has significant economic impacts on agriculture, as it affects the production and productivity of livestock, contributing to poverty and food insecurity in affected regions. Additionally, as T. brucei brucei shares many biological characteristics with its close relative T. brucei gambiense, which causes human African try
