Trypanosoma rhodesiense
- Pronunciation
- /TRIP-an-o-SO-muh roh-DEE-see-ens/
- Category
- Parasitology
- Singular
- Trypanosoma rhodesiense
- Plural
- Trypanosoma rhodesiense
Definition
A parasitic protozoan that causes East African sleeping sickness, a disease transmitted by tsetse flies.
Etymology
Named after Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe and Zambia), regions of Africa where it was first observed.
Example
Trypanosoma rhodesiense is a major cause of human trypanosomiasis in East Africa.
Related Terms
- African sleeping sickness
- Tsetse flies
- Trypanosoma brucei
Usage Notes
Trypanosoma rhodesiense is one of the subspecies of Trypanosoma brucei and is the causative agent of acute African trypanosomiasis.