Evaluation of an EDTA version of CATT/Trypanosoma brucei gambiense for serological screening of human blood samples.

CATT/Trypanosoma brucei gambiense, a direct card agglutination test designed for field surveys on human African trypanosomosis, is currently used with freshly collected heparinized blood samples. When testing serum samples, it has been observed earlier that, at lower sample dilutions, a complement-mediated inhibition phenomenon may cause false negative test results. This can be avoided by adding an anticomplementary agent such as di-sodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate dihydrate (EDTA) to the reaction.

[Sleeping sickness as an import pathology following a stay in Zaire].

A 32-year-old Italian man developed fever and general malaise 3 weeks after arrival in Zaïre. Malaria was diagnosed by a thick blood film, but consequent treatment with quinine was unsuccessful. After repatriation, the diagnosis of early stage sleeping sickness was established.