Trypanosoma. Light micrograph (LM) of blood infected with the parasitic protozoan, Trypanosoma, one of the agents of African sleeping sickness. The trypanosomes appear here as elongated, blue, ribbon-like objects, numerous red blood cells appear red. Trypanosoma, is transmitted by bites from the tsetse fly. After completion of their insect life-cycle stages, trypanosomes appear and multiply in the bloodstream. The characteristic lethargy caused by meningo- encephalitis appears after about a month. Magnification: X800 at 10cm wide.