Animal Trypanosomiases in the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan 



BT 



Captain W. B. Fry, M.R.C.S., L.K.C.P., R.A.M.C, attached E.A. 



Prutozoulogist and Assistant Bacteriologist 

 Wellcome Tropical Kesearcli Laboratories, Khartoum 



Intkoduction 



The question of animal trypanosomiasis in the Sudan, though perhaps of not so urgent 

 a nature as in some tropical countries, is yet of sufficient interest and potential economical 

 importance to justify thorough investigation ; moreover, it behoves us in practical tropical 

 economy to remember that the question as to whether existing conditions are compatible 

 with, or favourable to, the spread and prevalence of a disease, is of almost as much 

 importance as the knowledge of the existence of the disease itself. 



Was not the enormous loss of life from sleeping sickness on the lake shores in 

 Uganda caused by the introduction of an infected agent into an area fulfilling in every 

 way the environments required for the rapid spread of this disease ? A knowledge of the 

 bionomics of the Trypanosoma (jamhiense might well have rendered this disaster preventable. 

 The prevalence of biting flies and other general conditions occurring in the southern Sudan, 

 which is largely a country of swamp and jungle, present a state of things which is, in 

 general, as favourable a condition as it is possible to conceive for the spread of the various 

 trypanosomiases. 



Having accepted these facts, we must go on to consider what is at present known 

 as to the existence of the trypanosomiases, and we are at the outset faced by the 

 difficulties which have been occasioned by the want of uniformity of opinion which at 

 present exists as to the identity and characteristics of some of the less known 

 trypanosomes. 



In probably no other subject of scientific research at the present time does such Present 

 confusion prevail as in the study of these diseases, a condition of affairs largely due to the 

 diverse temperaments and knowledge of numerous observers varying in nationality, many 

 of whom are not disinclined to add their personal opinions to the literature of this 

 comparatively new field. 



Agreement on the question of nomenclature is by no means unanimous with regard to 

 some quite well-known species, so that the identification of a possible new species or 

 variety of species is fraught with the greatest difficulty. 



For the sake of clearness in this introduction and subsequent paper, we shall therefore 

 allude to the trypanosomes of this country under the heading of " Types," and having 

 briefly mentioned, under four classes, the trypanosomes which have already been discussed 

 at some length in the Second and Third Eeports of these Laboratories, we shall then go 

 on to enumerate the principles governing some proposed methods of classification. 



We have classified the known trypanosomes into the four following main types : — 

 1st Type — T. hrucei or T. pecaudi. 

 2nd Type — T. evatisi. 

 3rd Type — T. na-Hum or pecorum. 

 •ith Type — T. viuax or cazalboui. 



confusion of 

 classification 



