Onchocerciasis or River Blindness, is caused by a parasitic worm Onchocerca volvulus. While the disease is causes River Blindness, it is not transmitted by water; but by a black fly that lives and breeds near fast flowing water. The infection transmitted by the fly bite can result in blindness or a skin disease.
River blindess is most common in tropic areas with majority cases in Africa.
Pictures of River Blindness
The organism that causes River Blindness
Blindness
Skin Rash
River Blindness Life Cycle
Infecting 18 million people world wide, River Blindness begins when an infected black fly feeds from a human and the parasite is transferred. The parasite then begins to migrate in the skin tissue until it becomes an adult worm. Female worms cluster together, while male worms migrate between clusters to mate. Female worms then produce up to 1000 microfilariae a day that reinfect black flies when they bite and feed off an infected human. The disease is treated by the drug Ivermectin, which is given in the form of a pill. Suramin, which is administered intravenously is given in areas were there is resistance to ivermectin.
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