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Abstract
Onchocerciasis, an eye and skin disease caused by Onchocerca volvulus, is a leading cause of infectious blindness worldwide. Most onchocercal morbidity occurs in sub-Saharan Africa, while small disease foci exist within Latin America and Yemen. Disease control and elimination campaigns currently rely primarily on mass distribution of ivermectin, a therapy that does not cure the infection, but rather prevents the development of the eye and skin disease. Within Latin America, these strategies have dramatically reduced the incidence of new infection, and blindness attributable to onchocerciasis no longer exists in the region. Within Africa, decreases in ocular disease have also been documented. New therapeutic strategies targeting the endosymbiotic bacteria Wolbachia spp. are currently being evaluated in Africa.
Financial & competing interests disclosure
The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.
No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.