Onchocerciasis “River Blindness”: Pathogenesis and Ocular Manifestations Vectorial Transmission -> Onchocerca volvulus, a parasitic helminth, matures in to larva in black fly, Simulium spp. -> Black fly bites human, transmitting larva -> Larva matures in to adult worms in human that produce microfilariae -> Microfilariae enter the eye via blood stream or directly from the conjunctiva • Fluffy, punctate stromal keratitis -> Corneal opacity (sclerosing keratitis) • Chorioretinitis • Anterior uveitis => Blindness #Onchocerciasis #RiverBlindness #pathophysiology #ophthalmology
