Trypanosoma brucei on thick blood smear (Giemsa stain)

France, CHU Rennes Parasitologie-Mycologie

Trypomastigote forms have a slender, wavy appearance, and show central nucleus and posterior kinetoplast. The flagellum runs along the edge of the undulating membrane until this merges with the parasite body. Then the flagellum becomes free to extend beyond the trypanosome body. Trypanosoma brucei is the causative agent of african trypanosomiasis (including the human African sleeping sickness and related animal diseases).