Pronunciation: [ˈɒnt͡ʃə͡ʊsəkə] (IPA) 
The word "Onchocerca" is a medical term used to describe a parasitic worm that causes river blindness in humans. It is spelled as /ɒŋkəˈsɜːrkə/ in IPA phonetic transcription. The first part of the word, "Oncho-", comes from the Greek word "onkos" meaning a tumor or lump, and the second part "-cerca" is from the Latin word for tail. By breaking the word down phonetically, we can better understand its spelling and pronunciation.
Onchocerca is a genus of filarial worms belonging to the family Onchocercidae. These parasitic nematodes commonly infect humans and other mammals, causing a disease known as onchocerciasis or river blindness.
Onchocerca worms have a complex lifecycle involving both humans and black flies of the Simulium genus, which act as intermediate hosts. The adult worms reside in nodules beneath the skin and release thousands of microscopic larvae, called microfilariae, into the surrounding tissues. These microfilariae can migrate throughout the body, including the eyes, leading to severe ocular complications and blindness if left untreated.
The transmission occurs when an infected black fly takes a blood meal, ingesting microfilariae along with the blood. Within the fly, these microfilariae develop into infective larvae, which can then be transmitted to humans when the fly bites again.
Onchocerca infections are mainly found in tropical regions of Africa, although they can also be present in parts of Latin America and Yemen. Symptoms of onchocerciasis include intense itching, skin rashes, nodules, and visual impairment.
Prevention and control strategies for onchocerciasis involve the use of insecticides to target black flies, as well as administering mass drug administration programs with anthelmintic drugs like ivermectin, which can effectively kill microfilariae and reduce transmission.
Research efforts continue to develop new diagnostic tools, drugs, and vaccines to combat this debilitating neglected tropical disease caused by Onchocerca.
Oncocerca.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "Onchocerca" has its etymology rooted in Greek. It is derived from two Greek words: "oncho" meaning "barb" or "hook", and "kerkos" meaning "tail". The combination of these two words reflects the shape of the nematode (a type of roundworm) that this genus represents, which has a hooked tail.
