What is the classification of Onchocerca volvulus?

What is the classification of Onchocerca volvulus?

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Onchocerca volvulus/Class

Is Onchocerca volvulus prokaryotic or eukaryotic?

This domain originated 1.7 billion years ago from the first prokaryotic organisms (Sidwell 2014). Kingdom: This parasite is classified as an Animalia because it is multicellular and heterotrophic. Another reason is because this parasite ingests and digests food in an internal cavity.

What is the habitat of Onchocerca volvulus?

The habitat of Onchocerca volvulus is the body of its host. In the blackfly, microfilariae reside in the thoracic flight muscles. In humans, microfilariae can be found in the skin, lymph vessels, lymph nodes, blood, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, and internal organs (especially the eyes).

What causes 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.

What is the morphology of Onchocerca volvulus?

Microfilariae of Onchocerca volvulus are unsheathed and measure 300-315 µm in length. The tail tapers to a point and is often sharply bent. The nuclei do not extend to the tip of the tail.

What is the symptoms of Onchocerca volvulus?

Onchocerciasis, commonly known as “river blindness”, is caused by the parasitic worm Onchocerca volvulus. Symptoms include severe itching, disfiguring skin conditions, and visual impairment, including permanent blindness. More than 99% of infected people live in 31 African countries.

How is Onchocerca volvulus diagnosed?

The gold standard test for the diagnosis of onchocerciasis remains the skin snip biopsy. The biopsy is performed using a sclerocorneal biopsy punch or by elevating a small cone of skin (3 mm in diameter) with a needle and shaving it off with a scalpel. This will result in the removal of around 2 mg of tissue.

Where is Onchocerca volvulus found in the world?

Geographic Range Onchocerca volvulus can be found mainly in West Africa, and also in Central and South America. Most likely, this species was originally only in Africa, and was introduced to the Americas with African slaves. There are two strains of this species, distinguishable at the DNA level by the O-150 PCR test.

What is Onchocerca volvulus (blindness filaria)?

Onchocerca volvulus derived its name from two Greek word, onkos-hook, cercos-tail, hence meaning ‘hooked tailed’. It is a nematode that causes onchocerciasis or ‘ River blindness’, mostly in Africa. It is one of the leading cause of blindness in many parts of the world, hence it is popularly known in America as ‘ blinding filaria’.

What are the long-term effects of Onchocerca volvulus?

Onchocerca volvulus causes onchocerciasis, which causes severe itching. Long-term infection can cause keratitis, an inflammation of the cornea in the eye, and ultimately leads to blindness.

What is the endosymbiotic relationship between onchocerciasis volvulus and Wolbachia?

O. volvulus, along with most filarial nematodes, share an endosymbiotic relationship with the bacterium Wolbachia. In the absence of Wolbachia, larval development of O. volvulus is disrupted or ceased. These bacteria have been proposed to enhance the symptoms and severity of onchocerciasis by triggering inflammatory responses in the host.