Genetic variability within Trypanosoma brucei gambiense: evidence for the circulation of different genotypes in human African trypanosomiasis patients in Côte d'Ivoire.

For 23 Ivoirian patients infected by Trypanosoma-brucei gambiense, isolation and genetic characterization using PCR and microsatellite primers were performed (in 1996-99) using 2 different isolates (A and B) from each patient. When using TBDAC 1/2, 7 genotypes were observed, and DNAs A and B for 2 patients were different. This might be the first evidence of the presence of 2 different genotypes of T. b. gambiense group 1 in the same patient.