Book ReviewsOnchocerciasis and its Control Khalid F. TabbarraMD Khalid F. Tabbarra Professor and Chairman, Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh Saudi Arabia Search for more papers by this author Published Online::1 Jan 1996https://doi.org/10.5144/0256-4947.1996.98aSectionsPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload citationTrack citations ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditEmail AboutIntroductionThis booklet from WHO summarizes the meeting that was held between November 29 and December 6, 1993, in Geneva, Switzerland.This book provides a comprehensive review of recent advances in knowledge about onchocerciasis and the measures available for its control. New research findings and practical lessons acquired during the successful Onchocerciasis Control Program in West Africa are considered.The report has 13 sections. The opening sections summarize advances in understanding the filarial parasite Onchocerca volvulus and the imulium spp. vectors. Five sections profile current knowledge about the disease in terms of its clinical features, including changes following treatment with ivermectin, its geographical distribution and public health importance, its socioeconomic impact, and the measures available for diagnosis, surveillance, and treatment. Subsequent sections provide detailed advice on the two main strategies for onchocerciasis control: chemotherapy with ivermectin and vector suppression through insecticide application and environmental management. Training requirements for integrated control are also identified.The remaining sections define the prerequisites for sustainable programs for ivermectin distribution and point out the need for monitoring and evaluation in order to ensure that control activities continue, that all onchocerciasis sufferers are reached, and that available resources are used efficiently. The report also identifies several unique issues surrounding ivermectin distribution that must be addressed in order to realize the goal of sustainability. Annexed to the report is a clinical classification and grading system for recording the cutaneous changes of onchocerciasis.The first three sections of the book cover the life cycle of the parasite and the vectors. They also cover the vector capacity and transmission in both West Africa and the Americas. In subsequent sections, the authors discuss the clinical signs as well as the ocular signs and symptoms of onchocerciasis. In addition, the immune responses and pathogenesis of the disease are very well covered. The epidemiological studies and the geographic distribution of the current health problem of onchocerciasis are covered in Section 5, while Section 6 leads to the socioeconomic impact of onchocerciasis. In this section, new methods for the diagnosis of onchocerciasis, including the use of DNA probe and PCR for surveillance, are discussed. A section on treatment covers the various agents for onchocerciasis, including ivermectin, suramin, amocarzine, benzimidazoles, and diethylcarbamazine. The control of onchocerciasis is covered in three sections, including the epidemiologic modeling and objectives of the control, followed by the vector control and control through chemotherapy. This is followed by Methods for the monitoring and evaluation of control of onchocerciasis. Training programs, including the types of training personnel for the control of onchocerciasis, are well covered. The book ends with conclusions and recommendations for the control of onchocerciasis throughout the world.In summary, this is excellent coverage of an important health problem, considered to be one of the leading causes of blindness in Africa and Central America. It is a disease that can be controlled by eliminating the vector and by identifying cases and the use of new chemotherapeutic agents such as ivermectin.The field of medicine which is covered is clinical parasitology of onchocerciasis and the quality of coverage is very good. The audience for this book are those physicians interested in parasitology and ocular microbiology and physicians and ophthalmologists working in areas that are endemic for onchocerciasis. Previous article Next article FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 16, Issue 1January 1996 Metrics History Published online1 January 1996 InformationCopyright © 1996, Annals of Saudi MedicinePDF download