Overseas disease: comparative studies of onchocerciasis in Latin America and Africa
Sá, M.Romero.; Maia-Herzog, M.
Historia Ciencias Saude--Manguinhos 10(1): 251-258
2003
ISSN/ISBN: 0104-5970 PMID: 12901388 Document Number: 234489
Onchocerca is a roundworm and is transmitted by a black fly, Simuliidae; it can cause blindness. It originates from the African continent. In Latin America, it was first discovered in Guatemala in 1917; later, instances were recorded in Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia and Brazil. The establishment of this disease in the Americas has intrigued scientists since then. The multidisciplinary project described in this research note aims to investigate historical aspects of the arrival and spread of the disease in Latin America and make comparative studies of the history of the disease in both continents. The parasite was transmitted by Simuliidae, whose Brazilian species were first studied by Adolpho Lutz at the beginning of the 20th century.