To the Editor: We describe a confi rmed case of human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) in an expatriate returning to France from Gabon after a probable tsetse . y bite in the urban setting of Libreville. This case indicates a possible urban transmission of HAT in Gabon and stresses the need for entomologic studies in Libreville.HAT is endemic to sub-Saharan Africa. Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense (eastern Africa) and T.b. gambiense (western Africa) parasites are transmitted to humans by tsetse . ies of the Glossina morsitans group (T.b. rhodesiense) and of the G. palpalis group (T.b. gambiense), which are found only in Africa. T.b. gambiense represents >90% of all reported cases of HAT worldwide. HAT has always been a travel-associated disease. It is a rare cause of fever, cutaneous lesions, and neurologic signs in travelers returning from disease-endemic areas and involves T.b. rhodesiense in 70% of the cases, resulting mostly from an exposure during safari in game parks (1,2).
展开▼
