Trypanosomiasis vector control in Africa and Latin America

Parasites & Vectors

Table 1 Currently available treatments for human trypanosomiasis

	*Date of* *introduction*	*Days of treatment*						*Likelihood of* *serious side* *effects*
		*T. cruzi*		*gambiense*		*rhodesiense*
		early	late	early	late	early	late
Suramine	1916	-	-	-	-	40^a	-	++
Pentamidine	1940	-	-	7	-	-	-	+/-
Melarsoprol	1949	-	-	-	10–30^b	-	10–30^b	+++++
Nifurtimox	1967	30–60	-	-	15–30^c	-	-	++
Benznidazole	1972	30–60	-	-	-	-	-	++
Eflornithine	1990	-	-	-	7–14^d	-	-	++

^a Suramine: 1 injection per week for 5 weeks
^b Melarsoprol: new regime being developed of 1 daily injection for 10 days
^c Nifurtimox: not yet registered for use against gambiense, but is being used on compassionate grounds when other treatments fail
^d Eflornithine: 4 intravenous perfusions per day

ISSN: 1756-3305