出典:Wikipedia
出典:『Wikipedia』 (2011/06/08 15:21 UTC 版)
Onchocerca volvulus is a nematode that causes onchocerciasis or "river blindness" mostly in Africa. Long-term corneal inflammation, or keratitis, leads to thickening of the corneal stroma which ultimately leads to blindness. Humans are the only definitive host for O. volvulus. The intermediate host or vector is the black fly (Simulium). Onchocerca volvulus is one of four filarial nematodes that cause subcutaneous filariasis in humans. The other three filarial nematodes are Loa loa (the African eye worm), Mansonella streptocerca and Dracunculus medinensis (the guinea worm).