Wolbachia Endosymbionts of Onchocerca volvulus. Wolbachia sp. wOV_Ov17

Onchocerca volvulus is a nematode that causes onchocerciasis or river blindness mostly in Africa. Long-term corneal inflammation, or keratitis, leads to thickening of the corneal stroma which ultimately leads to blindness. Humans are the only definitive host for O. volvulus. The intermediate host or vector is the black fly (Simulium). O. volvulus, along with most filarial nematodes, share an endosymbiotic relationship with the bacterium Wolbachia. In the absence of Wolbachia, larval development of the O. volvulus is disrupted or ceased.

盘尾丝虫（Onchocerca volvulus）是一种线虫，主要在非洲引发盘尾丝虫病（onchocerciasis），俗称河盲症。长期角膜炎症即角膜炎（keratitis）会导致角膜基质增厚，最终引发失明。人类是盘尾丝虫唯一的终宿主。其中间宿主或称传播媒介为黑蝇（Simulium）。盘尾丝虫与多数丝虫类线虫一样，与沃尔巴克氏体属细菌（Wolbachia）存在内共生关系。当缺乏沃尔巴克氏体时，盘尾丝虫的幼虫发育会受到干扰或终止。