Onchocerciasis

Definition

Disease transmitted through the bites of infected blackflies of Simulium species, which carry immature larvae of the filarial worm Onchocerca volvulus. The larvae form nodules in host subcutaneous tissue, where they mature to adult worms. After mating, the female adult worm can release up to 1000 microfilariae a day, which cause a variety of conditions, including blindness, skin rashes, lesions, intense itching and skin depigmentation.

Subcategories (2)