Human African Trypanosomiasis Successfully Treated with Melarsoprol in Pregnancy in a Niger Delta Rural Hospital

Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) commonly known as sleeping sickness occurs in about 36 countries in sub-Saharan Africa and results in a large number of deaths and considerable illness. The drugs used in the treatment of HAT are very toxic and therefore might not be safe in pregnancy. Few published data exist on the treatment of HAT in pregnancy. We describe a case of T. brucei gambiense infection occurring in a pregnant woman that was successfully treated with Melarsoprol with no toxic effect to mother and the baby after 2 years of follow-up.

Coenzyme Q_(10) prevented full blown splenomegaly and decreased melarsoprol-induced reactive encephalopathy in mice infected with Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense

Objective:To establish the modulatory effects of coenzyme Q_(10)on experimental trypanosome infections in mice and evaluate the risk of occurrence and severity of melarsoprol-induced post treatment reactive encephalopathy(PTRE).Methods:Female Swiss white mice were orally administered with 200 mg/kg of coenzyme Q_(10)after which they were intraperitoneally inoculated with Trypanasoma brucei rhodesiense(T.b.rhodesiense).The resultant infection was allowed to develop and simulate all phases of human African trypanosomiasis and PTRE.Parasitaemia development,packed cell volume,haematological and pathological changes were determined.Results:A histological study in the brain tissue of T.b.rhodesiense infected mice demonstrated neuroinflammatory pathology which was highly amplified in the PTRE-induced groups.A prominent reduction in the severity of the neuroinflammatory response was detected when coenzyme-Q_(10)was administered.Furthermore,the mean tissue weight of spleen to body ratio in coenzyme Q_(10)supplemented group was significantly(P<0.05)different compared to un-supplemented groups,and clearly indicated that coenzyme Q_(10)prevented full blown splenomegaly pathogenesis by T.b.rhodesiense.A significant(P<0.05)increase in hemoglobin levels and red blood cells was observed in coenzyme Q_(10)mice compared to those infected and un-supplemented with coenzyme Q_(10).Conclusions:The capacity of coenzyme Q_(10)to alter the pathogenesis of T.b.rhodesiense infection in mice and following treatment with melarsoprol,may find application by rendering humans and animals less susceptible to deleterious effects of trypanosome infection such as splenomegaly and melarsoprol-induced PTRE and neurotoxicity.