International Glossina Genome Initiative 2004-2014: a driver for post-genomic era research on the African continent
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Date
2014
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
PLOS
Abstract
Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), also known as sleeping sickness, is a neglected disease that impacts 70 million people distributed over 1.55 million km2 in sub- Saharan Africa and includes at least 50% of the population of theDemocratic Republic of the Congo [1]. Trypanosoma brucei gambiense accounts for more than 98% of the infections in central and West Africa, the remaining infections being from Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense in East Africa [2]. The
parasites are transmitted to the hosts through the bite of an infected tsetse fly. Disease control is challenging as there are no vaccines, and effective, easily delivered drugs are still lacking. Treatment invariably involves lengthy hospitalization, with both medical and socioeconomic consequences.
Description
Keywords
Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), Sleeping sickness, Sub-Saharan Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, World Health Organization Tropical Diseases Research (WHOTDR)
Citation
Christoffels, A., et al. (2014). International Glossina Genome Initiative 2004–2014: a driver for post-genomic era research on the African continent. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 8(8): e3024. doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0003024