This site is intended for healthcare professionals

CPD
CPD
Pro
Pro
Sign in
Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Go to /pro/cpd-dashboard page

This page is worth 0.05 CPD credits. CPD dashboard

Go to /account/subscription-details page

This page is worth 0.05 CPD credits. Upgrade to Pro

Onchocerciasis

Authoring team

Onchocerciasis is a disease caused by the filarial nematode Onchocerca volvulus. It is transmitted by the blackfly genus Simulium. Species of which occur in Africa i.e. S. damnosum, S. naevi, and in Venezula i.e. S. metallicum.

Onchocerciasis is confined to West, East and Central Africa, Central South America and Southern Saudi Arabia.

The disease is characterised by genital elephantiasis, subcutaneous nodules and ocular lesions.

Reference

  1. Onchocerciasis Life Cycle. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Online 2025)

Related pages

Create an account to add page annotations

Create a free account

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.