158.The causal organism for African sleeping sickness is (a) Trypanosoma cruzi (b) T. rhodesiense (c) T. tangela (d) T. gambiense.
Option D Trypanosoma gambiense was first observed by Forde in 1901. It causes African sleeping sickness. The disease, also called trypanosomiasis, is found in western and central parts of Africa. The parasite is transmitted by blood sucking tsetse fly, Glossina palpalis. Mouth and contractile vacuole are absent. Food is absorbed through the body surface. The parasite multiplies by fission. In human beings the parasite lives in the blood plasma. It causes trypanosoma fever. It is accompanied by glandular swelling. Later the parasite enters cerebrospinal fluid and damages the brain. It makes the patient lethargic and unconscious. Because of it, the disease is called sleeping sickness. If untreated, the disease leads to death.
