How Do You Spell ONCOCERCA VOLVULUS?

1. Oncocerca volvulus is a parasitic nematode (worm) species that belongs to the family Onchocercidae. It is the causative agent responsible for the disease known as onchocerciasis or river blindness. This disease primarily affects humans and is transmitted through the bites of infected blackflies of the genus Simulium.

   The life cycle of onchocerca volvulus begins when female blackflies ingest tiny larvae, called microfilariae, while taking a blood meal from an infected human. Inside the fly, these microfilariae develop into infective larvae over a period of about two weeks. When the infected blackfly takes its next blood meal, it injects these larvae into the skin of a human host.

   Within the human host, the larvae mature into adult worms, typically residing in subcutaneous nodules or near the eyes. The adult worms can live for several years and produce millions of microfilariae, which migrate through the tissues causing symptoms such as severe itching, skin rashes, and eye lesions. The microfilariae released by the adult female worms also attract and are ingested by blackflies, thereby continuing the transmission cycle.

   Onchocerca volvulus is endemic in certain regions of sub-Saharan Africa, as well as parts of Latin America and the Arabian Peninsula. The disease burden is immense, with millions of people affected and at risk of irreversible blindness. Effective control and prevention methods include mass administration of microfilaricidal drugs, vector control, and health education programs to reduce exposure to infected blackflies.

2. A species in South Africa occasionally infesting man, causing the disease volvulosis.

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Common Misspellings for ONCOCERCA VOLVULUS

The word "Oncocerca volvulus" has its etymology rooted in Greek and Latin.

The term "Oncocerca" is derived from the Greek words "onco" meaning "swelling" or "tumor", and "kerkos" meaning "tail". This describes the characteristic shape of the adult female worm, which has an elongated body with a coiled tail.

The word "volvulus" is of Latin origin, derived from the Latin verb "volvo" meaning "to roll" or "to twist". It refers to the twisting or coiling movement that the worm makes within the subcutaneous tissues of the host.

In summary, "Oncocerca" describes the appearance of the worm, while "volvulus" describes its twisting or coiling movement.