ABSTRACT
Sera from 99 sleeping sickness patients admitted to Alupe Hospital were analyzed for circulating trypanosomal antigens using a sandwich antigen-trapping enzyme immunosorbent assay. Trypanosomal antigens were detected in 83 (84) of the patients. Post-treatment antigen profile in 67 patients showed five distinct patterns: in 48 of the patients antigen levels remained elevated thoughout; in 31 of the patients antigens dropped to the; negative value; and became elevated afterward; in 6.0 of the patients antigen levels were negative initially; but became elevated later; in 7.5 of the patients antigen levels remained below the negative value thoughout. The significance of these observations in the clinical management of sleeping sickness is discussed