Without treatment, why does African sleeping sickness invariably lead to death?

Name: Problem 18, Chapter 13: Concepts of Biology
Uploaded: 2020-05-29T16:37:14-08:00
Duration: 1 min 59 s
Channel: Victoria Karaluz
Description: Without treatment, why does African sleeping sickness invariably lead to death?

step 1 Trapanosoma bruce is the protist that causes African sleeping sickness. So one of the reasons wh

Without treatment, why does African sleeping sickness...

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Key Concepts

Parasitic Pathogenesis

This concept explains how parasitic organisms infect hosts and cause disease. In general, it involves the lifecycle stages of the parasite, its replication within host tissues, and the resulting systemic effects, which can lead to severe clinical manifestations if untreated.

Immune Evasion Mechanisms

Parasites often have strategies to avoid detection and destruction by the host's immune system. This includes altering surface proteins or other molecular disguises, allowing the parasite to persist and multiply, which contributes to the progression of the disease.

Blood-Brain Barrier Invasion

A critical aspect of disease severity in many central nervous system infections is the ability of the pathogen to cross the blood-brain barrier. This barrier normally protects the brain from pathogens, so its breach leads to infection of vital neural tissues.

Central Nervous System Involvement

Once the pathogen invades the central nervous system, it can cause extensive neurological damage. The resulting impairment of vital neuronal functions, along with the body’s inflammatory response, can lead to progressive deterioration and ultimately fatal outcomes if the infection remains untreated.

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