Published Date: 1999-07-21 23:50:00
Subject: PRO/AH> Trypanosomiasis? - Sri Lanka (05)
Archive Number: 19990721.1233

TRYPANOSOMIASIS? - SRI LANKA (05)
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See Also

Trypanosomiasis? - Sri Lanka: RFI 990707004230
Trypanosomiasis? - Sri Lanka (04) 990719223426
Date: Wed, 21 Jul 1999 12:21:23 +1000
From: p.prociv@mailbox.uq.oz.au

The discussion about simian trypanosomes in Sri Lanka and Malaysia and their
possible infectivity to humans reminds me of our old friends, the flying
foxes (_Pteropus_ species et al.). Over the years, several graduate
students here have chanced upon a _T. cruzi_-like organism in the blood of
some of our megabats ("flying primates"?), which has been labelled
_Trypanosoma pteropi_. I am not aware that its life-cycle has ever been
elucidated, but likely vectors must include the spider-like, wingless,
blood-sucking nycteribiid flies (prolific on bats, but unlikely to transfer
to humans), or midges (_Ceratopogonidae_), very likely to feed on humans as
well. In view of the ability of various viruses to infect both us and
megachiroptera, it should not be such a challenge for a haemoflagellate to
do the same.
---
Paul Prociv
Assoc Prof, Dept Microbiology & Parasitology
The University of Qld,
QLD 4072, AUSTRALIA
p.prociv@mailbox.uq.oz.au
...............................tg/jw
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