Single centrifugation of cerebrospinal fluid in a sealed pasteur pipette for simple, rapid and sensitive detection of trypanosomes.

Treatment of human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) due to Trypanosoma brucei gambiense requires distinction between haemo-lymphatic and meningo-encephalitic stages. The presence of trypanosomes in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is not only an evidence for diagnosis, but also indicates central nervous system invasion (WHO, 1998). When their number in CSF is high, trypanosomes are detectable during the cell count. In case of low trypanosome number, the detection is facilitated by centrifugation of CSF and microscopic examination of the sediment (LAVERAN & MESNIL, 1912). CATTAND et al. (1988) improved the sensitivity of trypanosome detection by introducing a double centrifugation (DC) technique: after the first centrifugation, the sediment is taken up in micro-haematocrit tubes which are centrifuged and examined for trypanosomes at the bottom of the tube. The DC technique is not widely practised due to the number of