The potential role of phospholipases in trypanosomiasis was investigated using bee venom phospholipase A2 (bvPLA2) as a model. The effects of bvPLA2 on the survival of Trypanosoma brucei brucei, 2h and 12h cultures of Enterobacter cloacae, Escherichia coli, Citrobacter freundii were studied. About 1mgml −1 bvPLA2 was trypanocidal after 30min. Some growth occurred at lower concentrations up to 2h after treatment but viability decreased up to 8h. Even very low concentrations of bvPLA2 (10 −12 mgml −1 ) had some trypanocidal activity. Bee venom PLA2 was bactericidal to 2h bacterial cultures but bacteriostatic to 12h ones. Minimum bactericidal concentrations were 10 −5 –10 −6 mgml −1 . The results showed that bvPLA2 had significant trypanocidal and antibacterial effects on Gram-negative bacteria. The relationship to events occurring during infection is discussed. Phospholipases may play a role in increased endotoxin levels in trypanosomiasis.