African Sleeping Sickness is Fatal If Not Treated Because the Parasite

Question

African sleeping sickness is fatal if not treated because the parasite
A) evades destruction by the immune system by changing surface antigens.
B) produces a toxin which binds irreversibly to neurons.
C) is an intracellular parasite in RBC's, where they are not detected by the immune system.
D) reproduces so fast there is no time for an immune response to develop.
E) produces a non-immunogenic toxin the immune system cannot neutralize.

Accepted Answer

The African sleeping sickness parasite, Trypanosoma brucei, evades destruction by the immune system by changing its surface antigens. This makes it difficult for the immune system to mount an effective response, leading to the progression of the disease if left untreated.