
Community identification
Eyeworm (African eyeworm)
Loa loa
- Order & Family
- Order: Spirurida; Family: Onchocercidae
- Size
- Adult females: 40–70 mm in length; Adult males: 30–34 mm in length.
Natural Habitat
Found primarily in West and Central Africa; lives in human subcutaneous tissue and can migrate across the subconjunctiva of the eye.
Diet & Feeding
Absorbs nutrients from the host's body fluids while residing in subcutaneous tissues.
Behavior Patterns
Transmitted by deer fly bites (Chrysops species); the larvae mature into adults in human tissue and crawl beneath the skin or across the eye's surface.
Risks & Benefits
Causes loiasis, leading to localized 'Calabar swellings,' itching, and eye irritation; surgical removal from the eye is often required to prevent discomfort and damage.