IntroductionIntroduction Programme Onchocercoses is funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Fund). Our research network is based on more than 30 years of successful partnership of research institutes in Germany and our partners based in Cameroon. Onchocerciasis is also known as river blindness because the blackfly which transmits the disease breeds in rivers; it often blinds people, as well as causing debilitating skin disease. Over 37 million people have been infected (source WHO), often affecting those living in poor, rural African communities. There is currently no official data about the levels of blindness in Cameroon, but it is estimated that about 1% of the population are blind (Sightsavers International), with the principal causes being cataract, river blindness, corneal scarring and refractive error. Ivermectin-mass treatments have been used to cure onchocerciasis and has been available for the past 15-20 years to the villages in our study area. As the life-expectancy of adult Onchocerca volvulus is about 10 to 15 years, it is expected that the endemicity of human onchocerciasis has now dropped to lower levels of endemicity. Planned projects Successful control of human onchocerciasis by mass-distribution of ivermectin (APOC) depends largely of two factors: The implication of additional control measures –…
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Life cycledesign by P. Wenk & A. Renz Crosstransmission of animal and human onchocercoses (A. Renz)
Epidemiology and control
Simulium vectorsSimulium damnosum s.l. is the main vector of human onchocerciasis in Cameroon and is also the main local vector of Onchocerca ochengi. There are at least 4 main (sub-)species found in the rain-forest and savanna: Simulium sirbanum: A small and very pale species, only found in the Sudan savanna. Simulium damnosum sensu stricto: Savanna mainly, but now also found since 1986 in the forest near Kumba Simulium squamosum: Forest and Guinee-savanna. There are probably several subspecies of S. suamosum; very dark ones in the forest and pale ones in the savana. Simulium mengense: Forest only, but occasionally also observed in the savanna These species can be distinguished by their morphology (see figure), as they come in the adult stage to bite on man. More precisely, identification can be done on the salivary gland chromosomes (“cytotaxonomy”). We examined over 100 Simulium breeding sites in varius bioclimatic zones of Camerroon. The results of the cytotaxonomic identification of the larvae found is given here. Other Simulium flies, like S. bovis, S. dukei, S. griseicolle, S. adersi etc. are occasinally caught on man. Filarial larvae are found in S. bovis (vector of O. ramachandrini, O. ochengi and possibly also O. volvulus) and S. griseicolle (filarial species not yet identified)
Filarial SpeciesWhilst Onchocerca volvulus, the human parasite that causes riverblindness, is commonly known, there is a large number of nun-human Onchocerca and other filarial species found in cattle, game animals and birds. Their infective larvae are encountered in bloodfeeding vectors and must be distinguished from the of human filarial species. Furthermore, some infective larvae of non-human species may occasionally develop in the human host and cause ‘zoonotic filariasis/onchocerciasis’ In the following, Onchocerca species of catte and other filarial species found in Cameroon, shall be presented: Filarial species found in Zebu cattle in Cameroon: …. under construction…. Onchocerca ochengi Onchocerca dukei Onchocerca gutturosa Onchocerca armillata Setaria spec. Dipetalonema spec. Filarial species found in game animals: Onchocerca ramachandrini BAIN WAHL & RENZ 1993 (warthog) – Simulium damnosum s.l. Onchocerca hamoni (reedbok) – vector ?? Onchocerca ochengi (substrain?) (hartebeest) – vector Simulium damnosum s.l. Robertdollfusidae (new species) – only mff found in Simulium damnosum s.l. (Bain, O. & A. Renz, 1993) Filarial species found in birds:
Bovine O. ochengi model
Oncholab
NewsAlbert Eisenbarth – Seminar at the LS Vergleichende Zoologie in Tübingen: “Charakterisierung der Filarien des Zebu-Rindes in Zentralafrika, sowie deren Vektoren mittels morphologischer, genetischer und epizootiologischer Analyse” Donnerstag, den 14. Oktober 9.15 – 10.00 Uhr, Raum E3A07, E-Bau, Morgenstelle
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Onchocerca volvulus

This is the most common species found in the Cameroon rain-forest and savanna.

Mansonella streptocerca

Found in the forest, mainly along the river Moungo. Vectors are Ceratopogonidae (biting midges)

Dipetalonema perstans

Found in the forest, mainly along the river Moungo. Vectors are Ceratopogonidae (biting midges)

Wuchereria bancrofti

Adult worms are located in the inguinal lymph nodes, sheeted microfilariae circulating in the blood. Vectors are mosquitoes.

Loa loa

A skin-dweling filaria with microfilariae circulation in the blood. The fly-vectors, Tabanidae of the genus Chrysops prevail in forest areas.

Filarial Species
Life cycle
- L1-L2-L3 in the vector
- L4 and adult worms
Simulium vectors
- Adult Simulium morphology
- Simulium breedings sites
The bovine O. ochengi model
Zooprophylaxis

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