Onchocerciasis is a disease of public health and socio-economic importance in Ethiopia. There is a scarcity of comprehensive data on onchocerciasis in Ethiopia. Thus this study is done to obtain information on the magnitude and distribution of onchocerciasis in different parts of Ethiopia. A literature based survey using published and unpublished articles was used to collect the data. A total of 12445 study subjects from 21 articles were selected and included in the study. The highest prevalence (85.3%) recorded in Teppi, southwestern Ethiopia and the lowest (6.9%) from the Kuwara province of Northwest Ethiopia. Onchocerciasis was higher in males than females and more common in middle age groups than other age groups. This study clearly shows the existence and severity of onchocerciasis in many parts of Ethiopia mainly in the Southwestern Ethiopia. A country wide study about ocular and non-ocular onchocerciasis and economical impacts caused by the disease should be implemented. Introduction Onchocerciasis, commonly known as river blindness, is endemic in many tropical countries but mainly in the equatorial regions of Africa. Out of the estimated 18 million infected people worldwide more than 80% live in Africa (1). Onchocerciasis was first reported in southwestern Ethiopia in 1939 by Italian investigators. Transmitted by the bites of black flies found near the fast-flowing rivers. (2). A complete national survey (1997-2004) in Ethiopia determined that onchocerciasis was much more wide spread than originally believed. Nine regions were shown to be endemic, with 7.3 million people at risk and more than 3 million already infected (2). The endemic areas extend from the northwest part to southwest part of the country that borders the Sudan (1). Manifestations of the disease in Ethiopia is mainly dermal that are characterized by the disabling itching and thickening of the skin, hanging groin etc. Blindness, a common manifestation of this disease in West Africa, is a rare complication in Ethiopia (1). Onchocerciasis is a skin disease of public health, and socio-economic/socio-cultural importance in Ethiopia (3). There is a scarcity of comprehensive data on the incidence and prevalence of onchocerciasis in Ethiopia. Thus this study is done to obtain information on the magnitude and distribution of onchocerciasis by age and sex in different parts of the Ethiopia. Methodology A literature based survey was done in School of Medical Laboratory Technology, Jimma University, Ethiopia from September 2006 to November 2006. Published and unpublished articles that deal with the onchocerciasis in Ethiopia were used to collect the data. The sample articles were selected and the significant information was collected using a prestructured questionnaire as per the objective of the study. As much as possible the original sense of the articles was maintained. The collected data was described using simple description statistics and any association of onchocerciasis postivity with socio-demographic characteristics, age and sex was determined and interpreted according to the objective.

CONCLUSIONS: Onchocerciasis was higher in males than females and more common in adults of middle age groups than other age groups. The prevalence of the disease is associated with activities like farming, washing clothes near the river and swimming that expose individuals to the vector. Ocular onchocerciasis considered as mild or rare in Ethiopia, but ocular manifestations has been reported in some of the studies. Recommendations Ocular manifestations must be studied specifically in different regions of the Ethiopia. A country wide study about onchocerciasis and economical impacts caused by the disease in Ethiopia should be implemented. The government and other non-governmental organizations should have to work on increasing the awareness of the communities in endemic areas towards the disease and implementing desirable control and prevention mechanism.