trypanocide /tri-pan′o-sīd/ , a drug destructive to trypanosomes, especially the species of protozoan parasite transmitted to humans by various insect vectors common in Africa and Central and South America. Various arsenic preparations are used to treat African sleeping sickness, caused by Trypanosoma gambiense and T. rhodesiense, and Chagas’ disease, caused by T. cruzi, in the Americas. Also called trypanosomicide. −trypanosomicidal, adj.