Abstract: This chapter describes onchocerciasis is a tropical disease caused by the filaria Onchocerca volvulus, whose vectors are particular species of the fly Simulium. Several other species of Onchocerca affect cattle and horses. Although onchocerciasis is a systemic infection, the manifestations of the disease are most prominent in the skin and eye. It is one of the major causes of blindness in Africa and parts of Central and South America. Although it is not a fatal disease, its socioeconomic impact is important and constitutes a serious public health problem. Onchoeerca volvulus is a parasite that is maintained almost entirely by transmission in man. The infection of man with onchocerciasis begins with a bite by the vector—an infected female Simulium fly. The chapter discusses the epidemiology, clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment of onchocerciasis. Effective control of the disease can be achieved only by a combined campaign, including attacks both on the vector in nature and the parasite in the host.
Publication Year: 1977
Publication Date: 1977-01-01
Language: en
Type: book-chapter
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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