African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) can theoretically be sexually-transmitted.
Features:
(1) A person is diagnosed with African trypanosomiasis.
(2) A sexual partner is diagnosed with African trypanosomiasis.
(3) All alternative methods of exposure have been excluded (residence or travel in an endemic area, blood transfusion, healthcare exposure, injection drug use).
Limitations for diagnosis:
• If the sexual partner lives in an area endemic for African trypanosomiasis, then exclusion of vector-borne transmission can be difficult.
• The partner may not have a history of clinical sleeping sickness and may have lived in a non-endemic area for some time.
Risk factors for transmission from the male:
(1) hematospermia
(2) sexually-transmitted disease including HIV
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