Curent epidemiological aspects of human african tripanosomiasis in former historic sectors in Mali.

Summary The goal of this study is to describe current epidemiological aspects of human African trypanosomiasis in former historic sectors known for this disease in Mali. We began a study from April to May if 2002 in the districts of Kolondieba, Kenieba, Kati and Kolokani. In the course of study we looked for blood and serum antitrypanosoma antibodies and Trypanosoma brucei gambiense by card agglutination and the mini-column technique, respectively, in 2080 subjects collected during the study period. Than we installed traps along waterways in search of the vector. The seroprevalence from blood samples of the human African trypanasomiasis in the study areas was 5.9%. 5.16% of positive blood samples also corresponded to positive serum samples No trypanosoma were isolated by mini-column test. The tsetse flies were captured from the human subjects' villages. According to these results, we can say that the African human trypanosomiasis no longer poses a public health problem in Mali. However, all contributing environmental and vectorial factors are presently primed for a resurgence of an African trypansomiasis epidemic in the studied area.