onchocerciasis

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

onchocerciasis
    n 1: infestation with slender threadlike roundworms (filaria)
         deposited under the skin by the bite of black fleas; when
         the eyes are involved it can result in blindness; common in
         Africa and tropical America [syn: {onchocerciasis}, {river
         blindness}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

onchocerciasis \onchocerciasis\ n. (Med.)
   An infection with nematodes of the genus {Onchocerca},
   especially {Onchocerca volvulus}. Untreated, such infections
   can cause serious dermatological problems, and in advanced
   cases may lead to blindness. In certain areas of tropical
   Africa the blindness caused by onchocerciasis is called
   {river blindness}.
   [PJC]