Trypanosoma gambiense
- Pronunciation
- /tri-pan-o-so-mah gam-bee-en-see/
- Category
- Taxonomy
- Singular
- Trypanosoma
- Plural
- Trypanosomes
Definition
A protozoan parasite that causes African sleeping sickness, a disease transmitted by tsetse flies.
Etymology
Named after the region where it was first discovered.
Example
African sleeping sickness caused by T. gambiense is a serious threat to human health in sub-Saharan Africa.
Related Terms
- African trypanosomiasis
- Tsetse flies
- Sleeping sickness
Usage Notes
T. gambiense is one of the two major subspecies of trypanosomes that cause African sleeping sickness.