Identification of Trypanosoma brucei vs Trypanosoma cruzi
The best, easiest way to distinguish Trypanosoma species: size of the subterminal kinetoplast
Trypanosoma brucei:
 - subsp. gamiense or subsp. rhodesiense
 - African Trypanosomiasis:African sleeping sickness
 - tse tse fly vector
 - Identification: small kinetoplast, divide as trypomastigotes in blood, larger than T cruzi (-2x RBC)
Trypanosoma cruzi:
 - South American Trypanosomiasis: Chagas disease
 - Triatomine (reduviid, 'kissing bug") vector
 - Identification: large kinetoplast, divide as amastigotes in tissue (never in blood), smaller than T. brucei (Size of RBC)

Rich Davis, PhD, D(ABMM), MLS @richdavisphd

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