Title: Targeting river blindness.

POPLINE Document Number: 168858

Source citation:

Africa Health, 2002 May;24(4):6.

Abstract:

Research conducted on river blindness suggests that cheap antibiotics could be used to treat the disease. As reported in the African Health news section, river blindness is treated with a drug which must be given annually to everyone living in an infected community for at least 15 years. It is noted that river blindness is transmitted by blackflies infected with the parasitic worm Onchocerca volvulus, which burrow into the skin reproducing and releasing millions of offspring. Scientists think that Wolbachia bacteria, carried inside the parasitic worm, is released when these offspring die causing the immune reaction. The common antibiotic doxycycline might be a possible treatment for the disease.

Keywords:

United States
Summary Report
Blindness
Onchocerciasis
Treatment
Antibiotics
Developed Countries
North America
Americas
Ophthalmological Effects
Physiology
Biology
Parasitic Diseases
Diseases
Drugs