Onchocerca is a genus of parasitic
roundworm
The nematodes ( or grc-gre, Νηματώδη; la, Nematoda) or roundworms constitute the phylum Nematoda (also called Nemathelminthes), with plant-parasitic nematodes also known as eelworms. They are a diverse animal phylum inhabiting a broa ...
. It contains one human parasite – ''
Onchocerca volvulus
''Onchocerca volvulus'' is a filarial (arthropod-borne) nematode (roundworm) that causes onchocerciasis (river blindness), and is the second-leading cause of blindness due to infection worldwide after trachoma. It is one of the 20 neglected trop ...
'' – which is responsible for the
neglected disease
Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a diverse group of tropical infections that are common in low-income populations in developing regions of Africa, Asia, and the Americas. They are caused by a variety of pathogens, such as viruses, bact ...
Onchocerciasis
Onchocerciasis, also known as river blindness, is a disease caused by infection with the parasitic worm ''Onchocerca volvulus''. Symptoms include severe itching, bumps under the skin, and blindness. It is the second-most common cause of blindne ...
, also known as "river blindness" because the infected humans tend to live near rivers where host black flies live. Over 40 million people are infected in
Africa
Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...
,
Central America
Central America ( es, América Central or ) is a subregion of the Americas. Its boundaries are defined as bordering the United States to the north, Colombia to the south, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. C ...
, and
South America.
"Medical Microbiology"
, Indiana State University. Accessed 14 February 2008. Other species affect cattle, horses, etc.[ ][ ][ ][ ]
List of species
*''Onchocerca armillata
Onchocerca is a genus of parasitic roundworm. It contains one human parasite – ''Onchocerca volvulus'' – which is responsible for the neglected disease Onchocerciasis, also known as "river blindness" because the infected humans tend to live ...
''
*''Onchocerca cervicalis
Onchocerca is a genus of parasitic roundworm. It contains one human parasite – ''Onchocerca volvulus'' – which is responsible for the neglected disease Onchocerciasis, also known as "river blindness" because the infected humans tend to live ...
''
*''Onchocerca dukei
Onchocerca is a genus of parasitic roundworm. It contains one human parasite – ''Onchocerca volvulus'' – which is responsible for the neglected disease Onchocerciasis, also known as "river blindness" because the infected humans tend to live ...
''
*''Onchocerca fasciata
Onchocerca is a genus of parasitic roundworm. It contains one human parasite – ''Onchocerca volvulus'' – which is responsible for the neglected disease Onchocerciasis, also known as "river blindness" because the infected humans tend to live ...
'' [ ]
*''Onchocerca flexuosa
Onchocerca is a genus of parasitic roundworm. It contains one human parasite – ''Onchocerca volvulus'' – which is responsible for the neglected disease Onchocerciasis, also known as "river blindness" because the infected humans tend to live ...
''
*'' Onchocerca gibsoni'' [ ]
*'' Onchocerca gutturosa''
*''Onchocerca jakutensis
Onchocerca is a genus of parasitic roundworm. It contains one human parasite – ''Onchocerca volvulus'' – which is responsible for the neglected disease Onchocerciasis, also known as "river blindness" because the infected humans tend to live ...
''
*''Onchocerca linealis
Onchocerca is a genus of parasitic roundworm. It contains one human parasite – ''Onchocerca volvulus'' – which is responsible for the neglected disease Onchocerciasis, also known as "river blindness" because the infected humans tend to live ...
''
*''Onchocerca lupi
''Onchocerca lupi'' is a nematode that causes ocular onchocerciasis, an eye disease, in canines and felines. The parasite was first described in 1967 in a wolf from Georgia. The other ''Onchocerca'' spp., '' O. volvulus'', is a human parasite tha ...
''
*''Onchocerca ochengi
Onchocerca is a genus of parasitic roundworm. It contains one human parasite – ''Onchocerca volvulus'' – which is responsible for the neglected disease Onchocerciasis, also known as "river blindness" because the infected humans tend to live ...
''
*''Onchocerca ramachandrini
Onchocerca is a genus of parasitic roundworm. It contains one human parasite – ''Onchocerca volvulus'' – which is responsible for the neglected disease Onchocerciasis, also known as "river blindness" because the infected humans tend to live ...
'' [ ]
*'' Onchocerca tubingensis''
*''Onchocerca volvulus
''Onchocerca volvulus'' is a filarial (arthropod-borne) nematode (roundworm) that causes onchocerciasis (river blindness), and is the second-leading cause of blindness due to infection worldwide after trachoma. It is one of the 20 neglected trop ...
''
References
Parasitic nematodes of mammals
Spirurida
Secernentea genera
{{parasitic animal-stub