Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0042961 (volvulus)
 4,305 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

A 2-year-old girl living in southwestern Japan had a nodule of 2 months' duration on the left foot. A biopsy from the lesion showed transverse sections of a worm surrounded by granulomatous tissue. The worm was identified as an Onchocerca sp. from the morphological characteristics such as relatively thick cuticles, annular ridges on the cortical layer, and high somatic muscles. Positive serological tests using ELISA for Onchocerca gutturosa and Onchocerca volvulus supported the diagnosis. This was the first case of zoonotic Onchocerca infection detected in Japan. The clinicopathological aspects of zoonotic onchocerciasis of this case were discussed.
J Dermatol 1990 Jan
PMID:A human case of zoonotic onchocerciasis in Japan. 232 17

A 15-year-old boy with onchocerciasis had severe generalized pruritus of five months' duration. He had been born and raised in Ethiopia and had emigrated to Israel one year earlier. A biopsy specimen of an area of depigmentation on the right thigh disclosed microfilaria of Onchocerca volvulus in the dermis. The discovery of an unusual disease in a nonendemic area is an example of the increased complexity of differential diagnosis resulting from the ease of travel from one geographic region to another.
Arch Dermatol 1984 Apr
PMID:Onchocerciasis in Israel. 670 55

Onchocerciasis is a common, chronic multisystem disease with dermatologic, ocular, and systemic manifestations. Although the disease is endemic in Africa, Latin America, and Yemen, imported cases have been described in the United States. The causative organism, Onchocerca volvulus, is transmitted by the bite of a black fly of the genus Simulium. There are a number of cutaneous manifestations of the disease, including onchocercomas, which are subcutaneous bundles of worms. The antiparasitic agent ivermectin is the drug of choice for both prophylaxis and treatment of active disease.
Int J Dermatol 2004 Mar
PMID:Cutaneous onchocercoma. 1500 84

Ivermectin is a semi-synthetic derivative of a macrocyclic lactone. It causes paralysis in many nematodes and arthropodes because of its effect on ion-channels in cell membranes. Ivermectin was first used in veterinary medicine. In man, it was shown to be microfilaricid against Onchocerca volvulus. Most of the adverse reactions following treatment were mild, without the systemic and ocular side effects usually complicating diethylcarbamazine therapy. In endemic areas after repeated administration of ivermectin, a dramatic reduction in dermal microfilarial load was observed, resulting in a decrease in transmission. There was a significant decrease in the prevalence of anterior segment lesions in the eyes and acute onchocercal skin disease. Moreover, ivermectin also exhibited microfilaricidal activity against Wuchereria bancrofti and Brugia malayi. Annual mass treatment with a single dose of diethylcarbamazine alone, or associated with ivermectin, was initiated in endemic areas for lymphatic filariasis. The preliminary results showed a decrease in the reservoir of microfilariae and rate of transmission, a reduction in the frequency of clinical lymphatic abnormalities due to bancroftan filariasis. In Loa loa infections ivermectin decreases microfilaremia, but serious adverse events such as encephalopathy can be induced in patients with high rate of microfilaremia. Ivermectin appears to be the drug of choice in Strongyloides stercoralis infections, a single dose is highly effective with less frequent side effects than thiabendazole. Oral ivermectin is an alternative to topical scabicides, it appears as effective as local treatment for common scabies, but there are few comparative studies. The best indications for ivermectin in this ectoparasitic infection could be the outbreak in institutions and crusty scabies, but in association with topical treatment. The precise position of this agent in the treatment of scabies remains to be specified. Ivermectin is also affective in the treatment of ascariasis and cutaneous larva migrans. It could also be a promising treatment for head lice.
Ann Dermatol Venereol
PMID:[Ivermectin]. 1531 39

Ivermectin is a synthetic derivative of the antiparasitic class of compounds known as avermectins. It is a macrolide endectocide with activity against both endoparasites with cutaneous tropism (Strongyloides stercoralis, Ancylostoma braziliense, Cochliomyia hominivorax, Dermatobia hominis, Filaria bancrofti, Wucheria malayi, Onchocerca volvulus, Loa-loa) and ectoparasites such as Sarcoptes scabies, Pediculus humanus, Demodex folliculorum, and Cheyletiella sp. Ivermectin is of great interest in the treatment of patients with different forms of scabies, head lice, demodecidosis, cutaneous larva migrans, cutaneous larva currens, myiasis, and filariasis.
Int J Dermatol 2005 Dec
PMID:Ivermectin: pharmacology and application in dermatology. 1640 59

Onchocerciasis results from infestation by the nematode Onchocerca volvulus and is characterized by troublesome itching, skin lesions, and eye manifestations. Although partially controlled by international mass prevention programs, onchocerciasis remains a major health hazard and is endemic in Africa, Arabia, and the Americas. Onchocerciasis is spread by bites from infested black flies, which transmit larvae that subsequently develop into adult filariae. Skin symptoms are commonly nonspecific and include severe pruritus, acute and chronic dermatitis, vitiligo-like hypopigmentation, and atrophy. Onchocercal ocular disease covers a large spectrum of manifestations, which in severe cases, may lead to blindness. Diagnosis is usually made by direct visualization of the larvae emerging from superficial skin biopsies, "skin snips." In some cases, the microfilariae can also be directly observed at the slit lamp when migrating into the anterior chamber of the eye. Ivermectin is, at present, the drug of choice for skin and ocular manifestations. Recent research using a chemotherapeutic approach that targets filarial Wolbachia symbionts in the treatment and control of onchocerciasis, however, suggests that 100 mg/d of doxycycline for 6 weeks might be effective in reducing the filarial load and preventing ocular symptoms.
Clin Dermatol
PMID:Onchocerciasis--river blindness. 1671 98

Onchocerciasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by a nematode parasite, Onchocerca volvulus, and transmitted by bites of Simulium blackflies which breed near fast-flowing rivers. In humans, thousands of microfilariae (immature worms) migrate to the skin and eyes where they cause pathology. Historically, much research was devoted to the serious effect of blindness, from which the disease earns its alternative name of 'river blindness'. Mapping the burden of onchocercal skin disease (OSD) was expedited by the development of a clinical classification and grading system that facilitated comparison of data from different countries. After successful field testing in Nigeria, the classification scheme was used in a multicountry study in seven endemic sites, to estimate the true burden of OSD across Africa. High levels of OSD were found, affecting 28% of the population. A new control programme, the African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control (APOC) was launched in 20 countries using annual doses of ivermectin, donated by Merck & Co., Inc. The multicountry study also found a close correlation between the levels of itching and OSD with the level of endemicity, as determined by the prevalence of onchocercal nodules. This enabled APOC to use Rapid Epidemiological Mapping of Onchocerciasis, which entailed identifying likely vector breeding sites near rivers, then sampling 50 adult males in nearby villages to determine the prevalence of nodules and delineate which villages required treatment. Onchocerciasis is now targeted for elimination in Africa, and the challenge is to complete Onchocerciasis Elimination Mapping of hypoendemic areas using serology.
Br J Dermatol 2020 Apr 17
PMID:Mapping the burden of onchocercal skin disease. 3230 10

Onchocerca volvulus is a spirurid nematode that mainly affects the rural poor of Sub-Saharan Africa, Yemen, and parts of Central and South America. River blindness caused by Onchocerca volvulus is considered to be the second most common infectious cause of blindness worldwide. We report a rare case of cutaneous Onchocerciasis from a non endemic area of North-East India. We could extract live adult worms from the subcutaneous lesions and also micro filariae from the skin nips. Onchocerca was confirmed based on its morphology. The patient has been subjected to therapy with ivermectin and doxycycline and is currently on regular follow up.
Indian Dermatol Online J
PMID:A Rare Case of Cutaneous Onchocerciasis in North-East India, Review of Literature. 3283 51