Authors
G Caljon3; N Van Reet1; C De Trez4; M Vermeersch2; D Perez-Morga2; J Van Den Abbeele1; 1 Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, Belgium; 2 Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium; 3 University of Antwerp, Belgium; 4 Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium Discussion
Metacyclic Trypanosoma brucei parasites are naturally transmitted by tsetse bite into the mammalian host skin. Parasite emigration from this dermal site resulted in detectable trypanosome levels in the draining lymph nodes within 18 hours and in the peripheral blood within 42 h. A subset of parasites remained in the skin and actively proliferated. Scanning electron microscopy suggested that this retention was linked to interactions with adipocytes in the connective tissue, entanglement by reticular fibers of the periadipocytic baskets and embedment between collagen bundles. These skin-residing trypanosomes can be re-acquired by tsetse immediately after the initial transmission. 
