Wolbachia are well known as bacterial symbionts of arthropods, where they are reproductive parasites, but have also been described from nematode hosts, where the symbiotic interaction has features of mutualism. The majority of arthropod Wolbachia belong to clades A and B, while nematode Wolbachia mostly belong to clades C and D, but these relationships have been based on analysis of a small num...

This report reviews information on Serious Adverse Events (SAE), mainly Loa-encephalopathy, following treatment with ivermectin (Mectizan®, Merck, Sharpe & Dohme) for control of onchocerciasis carried out by the African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control (APOC), in areas where heavy microfilarial infections with Loa loa are coendemic with Onchocerca volvulus infections. It also endeavours to ...

The prevalence of infected and infective black flies was estimated by pool screen polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification in the three river basins in Ecuador endemic for onchocerciasis. Mass distribution of ivermectin (Mectizan) resulted in dramatic declines in the prevalence of infected and infective flies. In the Rio Santiago river basin, no infections were detected, suggesting that tr...

Nuclear internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) rDNA sequences were used for a molecular phylogenetics analysis of five Onchocerca species. The sister species of the human parasite O. volvulus was found to be the cattle parasite O. ochengi and not O. gibsoni, contrary to chromosomal evidence. The genetic differentiation of two African populations (representing the two African strains) and a Brazil...

Nodding syndrome is one of several forms onchocerciasis-associated epilepsy (OAE) seen among children in areas formerly hyperendemic for the transmission Onchocerca volvulus. These are highly prevalent and clustered certain villages located close to blackfly (Diptera: Simuliidae) breeding sites. OAE presents with a wide spectrum seizures, including generalized tonic-clonic head nodding impaired...

In order to clarify the genetic differences between Onchocerca dewittei japonica, the causative agent of zoonotic onchocerciasis in Japan and a related undescribed Onchocerca sp., both parasitizing wild boar (Sus scrofa) of which the infective larval stages are indistinguishable from each other, we compared the sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (CO1) gene region from...

Onchocerciasis is a debilitating neglected tropical disease caused by infection with the filarial parasite Onchocerca volvulus. Adult worms live in subcutaneous tissues and produce large numbers of microfilariae that migrate to the skin and eyes. The disease is spread by black flies of the genus Simulium following ingestion of microfilariae that develop into infective stage larvae in the insect...

introduction: the persian squirrel (sciurus anomalus) is the only member of the sciuridae family found in the middle east. some people maintain them as pets, thus their referrals to veterinary hospitals has been increased recently. several morphological studies have been carried out mainly on the arch of aorta and its branches in common rodents, small mammals, and domestic animals but there are...