Tropical pyomyositis associated with Trypenosoma brucei rhodesiense infection in a Europid

A 29-year-old European woman became infected with Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense in the Luangwa valley, Zambia. Six days after the initial presentation of this infection she developed evidence of tropical pyomyositis (TP). These diseases, both of which are rare in Europids, were satisfactorily treated. The Dathoaenesis of TP, which is nearly alwavs caused by &aph$ococcus au&us, is undete&ned. It seems Dossible that in this case either (i1 both infections were &oduced simultaneously by H’tsetse-fly bite, or (ii) T. b. rhodesierrse produced multiple focal necroses in skeletal muscles which acted as niduses for the staphylococcal infections; immunodepression caused by this parasite might also have been important. Mroduction Tropical pyomyositis (TP) is a disease in which, although bacteraemia is unusual, collections of pus form witbin one or more large skeletal muscle masses. It is relatively common in children and adults in some tropical cot&es (LEVIN et al., 1971; CHIEDOZI