German scientists find new treatment for river blindness

The disease is caused by the larvae of the helminth, or worm, Onchocerca volvulus, which is passed to people when bitten by the black fly Simulium. Some 17 million people living in tropical regions suffer from the disease. The growing worms nest in connective tissue. Nodules that can grow to walnut size are found in the pelvic region or in the upper thorax and head region.

At an advanced stage the larvae find their way into the cornea and can cause blindness. Achim Horauf at the head of a team at the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine in Hamburg has discovered that the worms live in a symbiotic relationship with certain bacteria. If the bacteria are killed, the worms cannot multiply. Following tests on animals that proved successful, the researchers initiated human trials in cooperation with the University of Kumasi in Ghana. Volunteers were drawn from a tropical rain forest region in the West African country, where up to 90 per cent of the population suffer from Onchocercosis. The trials showed that the worms remained sterile 18 months after treatment commenced - killing the bacteria halted the spread of the worms. Horauf, who has received acknowledgement for his work, is now working with the World Health Organization on implementing a treatment programme.

(dpa)