any of a genus (Trypanosoma) of zooflagellates that live as parasites in the blood of human beings and other vertebrates, are usually transmitted by an insect bite, and often cause serious diseases, as sleeping sickness or Chagas' disease
See trypanosome in American Heritage Dictionary 4
(trĭ-pănˈə-sōmˌ)
noun
Any of various parasitic flagellate protozoans of the genus Trypanosoma, transmitted to the vertebrate bloodstream, lymph, and spinal fluid by certain insects and often causing diseases such as sleeping sickness and nagana.