Onchocerciasis (also known as river blindness) is a vector-borne disease that is transmitted from person to person via the bites of infected blackflies. The disease is caused by the parasitic filarial worm Onchocerca volvulus.

How do you get onchocerciasis?

Onchocerciasis, or river blindness, is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) caused by the parasitic worm Onchocerca volvulus. It is transmitted through repeated bites by blackflies of the genus Simulium.

Is onchocerciasis a communicable disease?

Is onchocerciasis contagious? Onchocerciasis is not contagious person to person. Transmission of the disease is through the bite of female blackflies (usually occurring during the daytime near rapidly flowing rivers and streams). Multiple bites are usually needed before being infected.

What is the vector for river blindness?

It is transmitted to humans by black flies (genus Simulium) and can cause severe skin and eye disease, including blindness. The disease is commonly known as “river blindness” because the larvae of the blackfly vectors breed in fast flowing rivers.

What is the mode of transmission of onchocerciasis?

Onchocerciasis is an infection caused by the parasitic worm Onchocerca volvulus, spread by the bite of an infected Simulium blackfly. It is also called river blindness because the fly that transmits infection breeds in rapidly flowing streams, mostly near remote rural villages, and the disease that is caused by O.

What is economic importance of Onchocerca volvulus?

Onchocerca volvulus causes a disease of significant socio-economic importance in West Africa, the Arabian Peninsula and regions of South America. Brian Duke explains that, despite the advent of ivermectin, the prospects for the eradication of this potentially highly debilitating infection are remote.

What are the mode of transmission of onchocerciasis?

The disease spreads by the bite of an infectious blackfly. When a blackfly bites a person who has onchocerciasis, microscopic worm larvae (called microfilariae) in the infected person’s skin are ingested by the blackfly. The larvae develop over approximately one week in the fly to a stage that is infectious to humans.

What is the life cycle of Onchocerca volvulus?

The larvae develop into adult worms in the nodules. Adult females may live up to about 15 years in these nodules. 4. After mating, mature female worms produce eggs, which develop into immature forms of the worm called microfilariae.

What is the incubation period of onchocerciasis?

How soon after infection will I have symptoms of onchocerciasis? After a blackfly bite, it can take up to 12–18 months for the larvae to develop into mature adult worms inside the human body that are capable of mating and producing new larvae (also called microfilariae) that can be found in the skin.

How is Onchocerca volvulus transmitted?

Onchocerciasis is transmitted by Simulium blackflies that have been infected by the Onchocerca volvulus worms. Once these blackflies are infected by Onchocerca volvulus, they will leave behind the larvae of these worms when they bite a person.

Mode of Transmission. As it was just mentioned, onchocerciasis is caused by the Onchocerca volvulus, a parasitic worm. More specifically, this disease is transmitted by Simulium blackflies that have been infected by these worms. The steps below describe the process of onchocerciasis transmission.

How long does it take for onchocerciasis to develop into Worms?

This is because it can take several years for the larvae to develop and grow into adult worms in the human body. Onchocerciasis is transmitted by the Simulium blackfly that has been infected by the Onchocerca volvulus.

What causes onchocerciasis (river blindness)?

Onchocerciasis 1 Causal Agent. Onchocerca volvulus causes onchocerciasis (river blindness). 2 Life Cycle. During a blood meal, an infected blackfly (genus Simulium) introduces third-stage filarial larvae onto the… 3 Geographic Distribution. The agent of river blindness, Onchocerca volvulus, occurs mainly in Africa, with additional… More